UPPER EAST SIDE — Copies of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo — the French satirical magazine that had its offices attacked by terrorists on Jan. 7 — sold out in just two hours, staff at Albertine, a bookshop located inside the French Embassy said.
One hundred copies were delivered to Albertine at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday morning, just before the bookshop opened, said Judith Walker, a communication officer for the Cultural Services of the French Embassy located at at 972 Fifth Ave.
By 1p.m. Albertine staff put out a sign on the building's front door to inform potential buyers it had ran out of the $6 copies.
"We have sold out of Charlie Hebdo Magazines. One copy is available for consultation within Albertine Books," the sign read.
The laminated copy of the weekly magazine — known for its satirical and controversial caricatures, often mocking religions and far-right politics — will be kept inside the bookshop as long as people show an interest in it, Walker said.
Laurent Altier, a 26-year-old French man who works as a bartender on the Upper East Side said he wanted to buy a Charlie Hebdo copy as a sign of solidarity with the French people.
"It's an historic edition," said Altier, who arrived at the bookshop too late to get the magazine. "The founding principles of France, of our democracy were attacked, freedom of speech and freedom of the press were attacked. I want to show my support (to France)," he said.
Masked men armed with assault rifles stormed the Charlie Hebdo newsroom during its editorial meeting earlier this month, killing 12 people including four of the magazine's lead cartoonists. Al-Qaida in Yemen later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Another gunman, who pledged loyalty to ISIS, killed four people at a Kosher supermarket in Paris two days after the Charlie Hebdo shooting. All three gunmen were killed by the French police.
All proceeds from the magazine sales will go to the families of victims who died in the attacks, Albertine staff said, adding that they did not know if they would be able to get more copies.
A French news website is trying to bring more Charlie Hebdo copies to the city by asking people to fill in an online form if they are looking to buy one.
