French ambassador thanks Ireland for support following attacks

The French Ambassador to Ireland Jean-Pierre Thébault has thanked the Irish people for their support and messages of solidarity following the attacks in France last week.

In a letter to The Irish Times, Mr Thébault acknowledged those who gathered around Ireland to join the French community in remembrance of the people killed in the attacks on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris.

“Thousands joined the French community in marches, gatherings, vigils in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick,” wrote Mr Thébault.

“From Ballina to Cavan, Dún Laoghaire, Waterford, Wexford, Longford, Kilkenny, Killarney and Portlaoise, to name but a few, letters, cards – many in French – flowers and children’s drawings illustrated the deep bonds between our two countries and our people around shared values.”

He writes the attacks were carried out to create a sense of fear in the western community, but says the Irish people have joined France in sending a clear response to those behind the attacks.

“The barbaric attacks were aimed at making all of us fear, feel disoriented, disunited.

“Not only shall we not be afraid but we are ready, each of us, to rise and stand in active support of freedom, in support of our journalists and policemen, to fight for the values that are core to our societies.”

He also thanked Enda Kenny for joining the republican march in Paris last Sunday when dozens of worlds leaders gathered in an expression of solidarity with the French people.

"Your messages, the support of President Michael D Higgins, the presence of the Taoiseach at the head of the republican march which gathered millions in Paris, the strong expression of solidarity by all the leaders of the parties in Dáil Éireann during a solemn session, the moving mobilisation of the representatives of all faiths at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, they all express the particular depth of the relation between Ireland and France, our common belief in the values of liberty, equality, fraternity and our joint commitment for peace and tolerance."

Al-Qaeda in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo earlier this week, saying it was insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.

In a message posted on YouTube, Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi of the Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda said:

“As for the blessed Battle of Paris, we, the Organisation of al-Qaeda al Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula, claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the Messenger of God.”