- Title: FRANCE-SHOOTING/CHARLIE HEBDO-LONDON Big queues to buy Charlie Hebdo in London
- Date: 16th January 2015
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 16, 2015) (REUTERS) LINES OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE FRENCH BOOKSTORE "LA PAGE" 'JE SUIS CHARLIE' SIGN ANOTHER 'JE SUIS CHARLIE' SIGN AND QUEUES OF PEOPLE MORE OF QUEUES ANOTHER BOOKSTORE SELLING CHARLIE HEBDO "THE FRENCH BOOKSTORE" AND QUEUES OUTSIDE "NOUS SOMMES CHARLIE" SIGN VARIOUS OF QUEUES OUTSIDE MAN PLACING CROISSANTS IN WINDOW OF BAKERY, WITH SIGN "JE SUIS CHARLIE" VARIOUS OF MAN SELLING CROISSANTS TO PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE BOOK STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSH KEMP, MAN WAITING TO BUY CHARLIE HEBDO, SAYING: "I feel like it is important just because it has been such a historic association with speech in Paris and around the world and I just really wanted to be part of that I think, and that is why people want to buy it, to have a part of this historic occasion and to assert their right to free speech as well." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTHONY GILLON, AMATEUR CARTOONIST WAITING TO BUY CHARLIE HEBDO, SAYING: "I am a cartoonist also, I animate and I think it is important that I go and get myself a copy in memory of those who lost their lives last week in Paris." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SARAH GREGORY, WOMAN WAITING TO BUY CHARLIE HEBDO, SAYING: "I am a journalist myself, so it resembles freedom of speech and I think it is really important so I would like to get a copy myself." REPORTER ASKING HOW HARD IT WILL BE TO GET A COPY "Yeah, we are hearing we are 97th in line so if there's only a 100 copies we will still get one" GREGORY RUNS OFF AS LINE MOVES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE INSIDE "LA PAGE" BOOKSTORE BUYING COPIES OF CHARLIE HEBDO VARIOUS OF ROS ELWES, ONE OF FIRST PEOPLE TO GET HOLD OF CHARLIE HEBDO COPY IN LONDON, HOLDING UP PAPER INSIDE BOOK STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROS ELWES, ONE OF FIRST PEOPLE TO GET HOLD OF CHARLIE HEBDO COPY IN LONDON, SAYING: "I support freedom of expression, I support freedom of expression and especially the use of comic satire to make a political point. And people died supporting this and I thought it was appalling and terrible so I wanted to buy this to support the cause." VARIOUS OF ANOTHER WOMAN HOLDING UP COPY OF CHARLIE HEBDO INSIDE STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEBASTIAN DETRE, SALES ASSISTANT, "LA PAGE" BOOK STORE, SAYING: "Yes, it was important for the expression of liberty, very important yes." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP INSIDE BOOK STORE TO BUY COPIES OF CHARLIE HEBDO VARIOUS OF TWO MEN POSING WITH CHARLIE HEBDO COPIES OUTSIDE BOOK STORE FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS LINES OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE BOOK STORE STILL WAITING TO BE ALLOWED IN SHOP WORKER AT DOOR TELLING PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE THAT THEY ONLY HAVE LIMITED NUMBER OF COPIES "JE SUIS CHARLIE" SIGN ON DOOR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF BOOK STORE WITH COPIES OF CHARLIE HEBDO
- Embargoed: 31st January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA83GWBH2WCXMNCR5KZ5ILJBX0G
- Story Text: Hundreds of people lined up outside French book stores in London on Friday (January 16) for the first available copies of the so-called "survivors issue" of French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo.
Lines began in the early hours of Friday and snaked around the streets of South Kensington as the two stores prepared to open their doors at 0800gmt.
"I feel like it is important just because it has been such a historic association with speech in Paris and around the world and I just really wanted to be part of that I think, and that is why people want to buy it, to have a part of this historic occasion and to assert their right to free speech as well," said Josh Kemp.
Anthony Gillon is an amateur cartoonist.
"I am a cartoonist also, I animate and I think it is important that I go and get myself a copy in memory of those who lost their lives last week in Paris."
Sarah Gregory also felt it important to show solidarity.
"I am a journalist myself, so it resembles freedom of speech and I think it is really important so I would like to get a copy myself," she said.
At "La Page" book store they were only able to get hold of 360 copies, despite receiving demand far greater than that.
The tiny premises allowed customers inside in small groups to try and manage the crowds.
Ros Elwes was one of the first few to get hold of a copy.
"I support freedom of expression and especially the use of comic satire to make a political point. And people died supporting this and I thought it was appalling and terrible so I wanted to buy this to support the cause," she said.
Staff at La Page said this is the first time Charlie Hebdo has ever been available in London.
They never considered not stocking it this week due to security concerns, said sales assistant Sebastian Detre "It was important for the expression of liberty, very important."
Book stores in London say they will try to get hold of more copies in the coming days.
In an open letter earlier this week a group of Muslim leaders in Britain appealed for calm in their communities in the face of such demand for the controversial publication. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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