The Slatest

German Newspaper That Reprinted Charlie Hebdo Cartoons Hit by Arson Attack

A burned copy of the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper is pictured among other documents in front of the newspaper’s building in Hamburg.

 Reuters/Fabian Bimmer

A German newspaper in the northern city of Hamburg that republished cartoons from the French weekly Charlie Hebdo was firebombed overnight Sunday. Police have detained two people suspected in the attack, which involved “rocks and then a burning object” that were thrown through a window into the archives of the Hamburger Morgenpost at about 2 a.m., reports Deutsche Welle. The men, who are 35 and 39 years old, were arrested after they were seen behaving suspiciously in the area. The fire damaged some files, but no one was hurt, the Morgenpost reported.

Although police say the motive of the attack is still under investigation, it comes only days after the newspaper reprinted some of the most controversial Charlie Hebdo cartoons on Thursday, under the headline “this much freedom must be possible.” Other newspapers in Germany that published the cartoons will be getting police protection, reports the Associated Press. Many media outlets across Europe have republished some of the most controversial Charlie Hebdo cartoons in a show of solidarity.

Read more of Slate’s coverage of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.