Charlie Hebdo Vows To Continue Publishing

One of its surviving staff members says Charlie Hebdo will come out as scheduled next week.

Columnist Patrick Pelloux says they will publish next Wednesday to defiantly show that "stupidity will not win."

He says it is very hard for the remaining staff and they are all suffering with grief and fear.

Pelloux says the next issue will have to be put together outside Charlie Hebdo's Paris headquarters which are not accessible because of the massacre.

Experts say a frightening aspect of the Paris terror attack is that it took the fight against journalists into their newsroom.

Massey University senior journalism lecturer Dr Catherine Strong says journalists know the risks when they go into conflict zones.

"To be in the security of your newsroom and to be shot at is not a common occurrence, that is taking the fight to a new level."

Dr Catherine Strong says in war zones journalists are often targeted before the enemy.

Closing in on suspects

France has extended the highest security alert level already in place in greater Paris to the northern Picardy region where police have zoned in on two suspects in the magazine massacre.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls' office says he's extended the attack alert level to Picardy.

The security step-up came after two brothers being sought for the attack against the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo were spotted in the region, resulting in a massive deployment of security forces.

And as CNN's Robin Curnow reports there's been sighting of the gunmen Said and Cherif Kouachi this morning.

"French media report that a gas station attendant spotted the suspects. They allegedly threatened the man and stole petrol and food before heading towards the French capital."

Britain, meanwhile, has stepped up security at ports serving France following the attack in Paris, as the MI5 intelligence agency offered French counterparts its full support.

Memorial services

Office workers stood shoulder to shoulder, buses and metros halted, and only the toll of bells and sound of weeping broke the silence as France honoured the 12 people massacred at Charlie Hebdo magazine.

A large crowd gathered in front of Paris' medieval Notre Dame cathedral before noon yesterday, when the country observed a national minute of silence.

Among the hundreds gathered on the ancient square, many were in tears or stood with their eyes closed, while some prayed and a long line formed to enter the cathedral for a special memorial Mass.

A vigil will be held in Auckland tomorrow from 5pm on Queen St.

A minute's silence will be held at sporting events across France to honour the 12 victims of the terrorist attack in Paris.

All French football, rugby and basketball matches will observe the tributes with the country being called on to show solidarity.

All three of the sport's national bodies have offered their condolences to those affected.

Pope Francis has celebrated mass for the victims of the attack.

The 78-year-old pontiff prayed for the victims and also for the perpetrators that the Lord might change their hearts.

Following the early morning prayers in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, Francis posted the #PrayersForParis hashtag on Twitter.

Charlie Hebdo received numerous threats for publishing cartoons of the Muslim prophet but was also a constant critic of the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders.

Revenge attacks

Mosques, prayer halls and a kebab shop near a Muslim temple have been targeted in the early hours of the morning following the terrorist attack on satirical magazine in Paris.

The three retaliation attacks reveal a country on edge.

French Muslims fear attack will lead to surge in far right party membership.

Second terror attack

There's been a second terror incident in France... but the country's Interior Minister has confirmed it's not connected to the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris.

Thousands of police officers are hunting two brothers being sought for the attack against the satirical weekly.

Correspondent Anne Penketh says that's been complicated because at the same time, they're hunting for a gunman who killed a policewoman on traffic duty outside the capital.

"It's been labelled a second terror incident, however the Interior Minister has just said the two are not connected."

Newstalk ZB