‘Allahu Akbar!’: Extremists Praise Paris Terrorist Attack Online

Following the bloody carnage that ensued after at least two masked gunmen opened fire on the the Paris-based offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12, supporters of ISIS (Islamic State), al Qaeda, and other extremist groups took to Twitter brandishing their praise for the killings in the name of Allah.

The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) issued a press release detailing several Twitter accounts that commended the terrorists saying the act was in retaliation for disrespecting their prophet. Several of the accounts have been suspended as a result of CEP’s work.

You (kuffar) have taken away the free speech of Muslims in the west with laws and jails. We will take away your ‘free speech’ with death

— Mujahideen Times (@Mujahideen_IS1) January 7, 2015

Défendre le Messager salla-Llâhu ‘alayhi wa salâm pic.twitter.com/zXpxISU7vr

— الفرات والدجلة (@alfuratwadijlah) January 7, 2015

One tweet appears to be from a self-proclaimed ISIS supporter:

May Allah swt reward our brothers in France who are real men, fear & love Allah swt, who have gheera and took revenge for the Ummah. #IS

— Abu Dujana (@AbuHeadshot) January 7, 2015

Another user justified the attacks and called for “peace” to be upon the messengers who took their wrath out on the unarmed civilians:

@Haliisheikh Allah decended his lions on the filthy french magazines who Insulted our Prophet peace be upon him! Alhamdulilah!

— Abu Jandal (@ProtocolJihad01) January 7, 2015

Others cited justice in the name of their prophet:

They insulted the Prophet (saw). They hated Allah. Subhanallah, they got billed. I can’t wait to see their relatives crying. Allahu Akbar.

— Abu Ottoman (@RadioR_m) January 7, 2015

A full list of tweets from users supporting the Charlie Hebdo attack can be found here.

CEP is an international policy organization that was formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideology. They have successfully shut down several terrorist-linked accounts on Twitter. CEP is headed by former Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to President George W. Bush Frances Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of United Against Nuclear Iran Mark Wallace, and has the support and involvement of former Senator Joseph Lieberman.

Adelle Nazarian is on Twitter @AdelleNaz