French born north-east MSP to lead debate on first anniversary of Charlie Hebdo attack

A north-east MSP will lead a debate at Holyrood today marking the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris.

Christian Allard, who represents north-east Scotland, will call for the day to be celebrated as a Cartoonists’ Day.

He will use his speech in Parliament to defend the right to free speech.

The SNP MSP, who is a French national, will lead a debate commemorating the victims of the Paris attack, which left 12 people dead.

Another five people were also killed by Islamist gunmen over the next two days.

Mr Allard said the right to free speech was essential, and an attack on cartoonists and journalists was “an attack on us all”.

The Charlie Hebdo attack was carried out by brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, who forced their way into its offices, shooting dead 11 people and injuring 11 others.

They later shot dead a French National Police officer outside the building.

The gunmen said they belonged to the Yemen branch of the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda, which took responsibility for the attack.

Both brothers died on 9 January 2014 after being shot by police following a siege in Dammartin-en-Goele, about 20 miles north east of Paris.