Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack in Paris: What Is Vigipirate?

January 7, 2015 10:42 AM EST

At least 12 people were killed Wednesday in a shooting attack at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Around 3,000 police officers are reportedly involved in the search for the assailants behind France’s deadliest terrorist attack in memory.

How is France responding to the attack?
As a manhunt began for the shooters, police officers were stationed outside of schools, newspapers, public transportation sites, shopping centers and religious locations. Crisis centers were set up at locations such as police headquarters and ministries. School field trips were canceled, and parking around schools of all different levels was suspended. Searches for explosives and bomb-detection efforts were expanded, as were random stops and searches. Military presence was increased for additional surveillance. It’s all part of France’s Vigipirate program.

What is that?
The country’s security alert system, similar to the U.S. Homeland Security Advisor System. The program dates back to 1978, Le Monde reports, but was first activated in 1991 during the Gulf War. When the Iraq War began, the Vigipirate system was revised to include five different levels, each marked by a certain color, to signify various threat levels. In February of 2014, the code was simplified to just two levels — a vigilance level and an attack alert level, which is now in effect for the first time, Metro News reports. The attack alert level is activated when there has been a terrorist attack or when one is detected by national intelligence. There are about 300 different safety measures covered by Vigipirate.

What other attacks have there been?
In addition to the Gulf War and the Iraq War, major events that have triggered a change in the Vigipirate alert include the 1995 Paris Metro Bombing, the 2004 Madrid train bombings, and the 2005 London bombings. The alert remained in red colors until the new two-level system was established.

Paris Police Respond to Charlie Hebdo Attack

Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Jan. 7, 2015.Anne Gelbard—AFP/Getty Images

An injured person is evacuated outside the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office, in Paris, Jan. 7, 2015. Police official says 11 dead in shooting at the French satirical newspaper. — An injured person is evacuated outside the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's office, in Paris, Jan. 7, 2015. Thibault Camus—AP

APTOPIX France Newspaper Attack — A bullet impact is seen in a window of a building next to the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office, in Paris, Jan. 7, 2015. Thibault Camus—AP

President Francois Hollande arrives after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, Jan. 7, 2015. Christian Hartmann—Reuters

French police officers and forensic experts examine the car used by armed gunmen who stormed the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7, 2015 in Paris. Domique Faget—AFP/Getty Images

Ambulances gather in the street outside the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office, in Paris, Jan. 7, 2015. Francois Mori—AP

People stand outside the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office after a shooting, in Paris, Jan. 7, 2015. — People stand outside the French satirical newspaper *Charlie Hebdo*'s office after a shooting, in Paris on Jan. 7, 2015 Thibault Camus—AP

Here’s How Paris Authorities Are Responding to the Terror Attack on Charlie Hebdo

Paris Police Respond to Charlie Hebdo Attack

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