Analysis: Al Qaeda and Other Jihadists Repeatedly Threatened French Magazine

The identities and backgrounds of the terrorists who assaulted Charlie Hebdo, a French magazine, are still unknown. The Long War Journal cautions against drawing conclusions at this early stage. As of this writing, the terrorists responsible have not even been apprehended. And speculation concerning the circumstances surrounding a terrorist attack has proven to be wrong in the past.

We do know that the magazine, which has published satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, but also personalities from other religious traditions, has been repeatedly threatened by jihadists.

Al Qaeda has taken notice of the magazine, arguing that members of its staff should be targeted for their role in publishing controversial material.

The tenth issue of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's Inspire magazine, for example, includes a “Wanted” poster that is headlined, “Dead or Alive For Crimes Against Islam.” The poster is intended to encourage followers to shoot eleven people, all of whom have supposedly offended Islam.

One of the men listed is Stephane Charbonnier, the editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo. According to news accounts, Charbonnier was killed during today's attack. He had been living under police protection because of previous threats against his life.

Citing a witness to the terrorist attack, the Telegraph (UK) reports that the terrorists responsible said they were from al Qaeda in Yemen.

The SITE Intelligence Group points out that jihadists from other groups, including Ansar Bayt al Maqdis (ABM) and Tehrik-e-Taliban Punjab, have also taken note of the French magazine. A faction of ABM in the Sinai has sworn loyalty to the Islamic State's Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, while other parts of the group reportedly are loyal to al Qaeda.

In October 2012, al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn mentioned the magazine in an audio message. “And here is France mocking again our Prophet, Allah's peace and prayer be upon him, and our Shariah and the recent progress that Muslims achieved in the Arab revolutions in general and Libya and Tunisia in particular,” Gadahn said, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. “So, where are the lions of Islam to retaliate for their Prophet, Allah's peace and prayer be upon, against France and its immoral newspaper [sic] Charlie Hebdo. We ask Allah to reward in the best way those who burned its headquarters and hacked its website, for you cooled off the chests of Muslims. Is there more?”

The magazine has also poked fun at the Islamic State, which claims to rule over a “caliphate” stretching across portions of Iraq and Syria, and its emir, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

Again, it is too early to tell if the terrorists were members or followers of al Qaeda, the Islamic State, or completely separate from those two groups.

The Long War Journal is not drawing any conclusions based on previous threats. More evidence is needed to firmly establish the terrorists' identities.