The brutal attack that took place in Paris on the headquarters of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo could lead to dreadful consequences.
Beyond grief for the victims and those close to them, many are speculating as to what the political reactions to this attack will be. In a speech delivered on site just a few hours after the attack, French President François Hollande called for "national unity" in the face of a "tragedy that affects everyone." It is clear, however, that the attack runs the risk of fanning the flames of an already tense situation not only in France but also across Europe.
Reports strongly suggest that the attack is linked to a form of militant Islamism. If this were to be confirmed, the result could be a strong boost for rampant anti-Islamic rhetoric across Europe. If forced to match the French far right's anti-Islamic program, the already struggling Hollande government could be pushed into making some unwise decisions. If, for example, it were to turn out that the attack could be linked with the perpetrators receiving support or military training from Islamist organizations operating from abroad, how is the French president — and public opinion — going to react?