Luc Hermann, co-director of the Première lines production company, was present this Friday, September 25 at the time of the attack committed by an individual armed with a knife in front of the building on rue Nicolas-Appert in Paris (11th century) housing his company and the former offices of Charlie Hebdo where the attack on the Kouachi brothers took place 5 years ago.
Two of his colleagues were seriously injured.
He denounces a breach of security since the start of the trial of the January 2015 attacks.
How are your colleagues?
LUC HERMANN.
We have reassuring news from our employee at the Pompidou Hospital.
Injured in the face, her operation performed by Professor Lantieri, a star of facial reconstruction, went very well.
She left the operating room.
But we are awaiting further information from our well-trained employee at Pitié Salpêtrière.
Both are in intensive care.
Both worked for our production team which makes documentaries.
Our employee was in charge of the planning of the editing rooms.
The young man ensures the final phase of a documentary.
It is an essential link.
Were you there on Friday?
Yes.
I was in the building and I followed part of the scene.
We heard screams in the street.
It took us 20 seconds to figure out that these weren't teenagers but screams of fear.
We then climbed on the roof and saw our injured employees being taken care of by passers-by and then by firefighters who arrived very quickly on the spot.
I would also like to salute the coolness of our entire team and those who came to the aid of our colleagues.
What did you feel ?
After the astonishment and concern, we felt anger because a building symbolizing freedom of expression and the press was again violently attacked in the heart of Paris!
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Did you feel safe since the Charlie Hebdo attacks?
Charlie Hebdo had moved since the attack to secret premises.
As the months went by, we felt safe.
The police gradually ceased their presence in front of the building.
No company in this building had received a threat.
Lately, only a police car has been driving slowly down the street, probably several times a day.
Do you think there was a security breach in the building?
I challenged the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior and the Paris police prefect because a question raises questions.
It is a symbolic building with a commemorative plaque in tribute to the victims murdered in 2015. I understand that there cannot be a 24-hour patrol in front of all religious or symbolic buildings.
However, after an attack with such a global impact like that of Charlie Hebdo, one wonders about the total lack of security at the time of the trial of the attacks started three weeks ago.
It is obvious that this street and the building should have been considerably secured.
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Did the government assure you of its support on Friday?
The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin will receive us shortly.
The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring security in this building.
They are being asked for action now.
Did you think that this attack could be retaliation following the images of the Kouachi brothers filmed by members of your team in 2015?
Absolutely not.
Two of our staff had filmed their flight from the roof.
These images, broadcast by channels, are a major document on a terrorist attack.
They did their journalistic job.
At no time did we ask ourselves whether we were going to annoy someone.
VIDEO. "I saw a man with a knife chasing a wounded man"
Have people on your team told you about any apprehension in recent weeks with the start of the trial?
Many collaborators were present on January 7, 2015. We obviously all thought about this trial with a lot of emotion even if we did not see a direct threat against this building.
Did anyone tell you about suspicious events around the street?
No and if that had been the case, we would have informed the authorities.
We have tightened all the codes to enter our premises.
Everyone, including those who arrived recently, has been made aware of this issue since 2015. Emergency numbers are written in large letters on each of the doors of our premises.
How is your team doing?
She is in shock.
With Charlie Hebdo, we had set up an important psychological unit.
We put it back in place on Friday.
This is all going to take time.
And the management will take care of each journalist individually.
Do you want to move?
The question obviously arises.
