Charlie Hebdo attack shocks the world

● Tourist killed in Malta ● Monti stalls criticised

On 11 January, thousands of people, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and other world leaders, gathered at Republique square in Paris to show support in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks

January 2015 will unfortunately be remembered for the terrorist attack by IS on the satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo on 7 January. Three men armed with automatic rifles stormed the building and shot at anyone they could see. In reaction, on 8 January, journalists from all newsrooms in Malta gathered in Valletta to condemn the attack in Paris, in which at least five journalists were killed. A joint statement by all media and publishing houses read: “As members of the media, we affirm that the much cherished right of freedom of expression has to live on without fear of consequence.”

9 January saw the end of the three-day terror spree around Paris. The two al-Qaeda-linked brothers who staged the murderous rampage on the 7th and an associate who seized a kosher supermarket to try to help them escape were killed. The worst terrorist attacks France had seen in decades left at least 20 people dead, including the three gunmen. Sixteen hostages were also freed on the day.

On 11 January, thousands of people, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and other world leaders, gathered at Republique square in Paris to show support. Later, on 19 January thousands of people marched in Chechnya to rally against the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Sliema’s Tower Road was the scene of a horrific incident on 12 January, as a German tourist, Rainer Mader, was killed in a hitand-run incident. A 36-year-old man from Żurrieq who fled the scene and was later caught down the same road was charged for the killing on 14 January. Mario Gatt was charged with involuntary homicide and other charges. The accused pleaded not guilty because he claimed to suffer from a type of epilepsy that can cause short blackouts.

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, the Chairman of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Committee, told the House Business Committee on 19 January that the new Parliament building was to be completed by March. Transport Minister Joe Mizzi would not, however, give an exact date for the migration to the new Parliament saying the government was relying on timelines being given by the contractors behind the project.

On 22 January, 87 male migrants from central Africa were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta. Eight were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital and three were in critical condition suffering from dehydration. 23 January saw 25-year-old Colombian-born Dane Michael Camilio Precht pleading guilty for impersonating a doctor and indecently assaulting three young women. Following this, the 26 January had parts of Malta covered in ice as hail blanketed the streets in an afternoon downpour and chaos was observed on some roads.

Another harrowing incident happened on 27 January, where four foreigners and five guards were killed during a terrorist attack at the Corinthia Bab Hotel in Tripoli after gunmen in bulletproof vests stormed the luxury hotel. On 28 January, the Prime Minister said these 11 workers, along with 13 other Maltese nationals, were taken to a more secure site while 13 were flown to Malta.

Finally on 30 January, Valletta Mayor Alexei Dingli joined V18 Chairman Jason Micallef in criticising the new monti stalls, which he described as being “cheap looking” and unworthy of being part of the Renzo Piano projects.