Eyewitness to the Charlie Hebdo attack: At first we all thought it was a joke

“A man dressed in black with a uniform like that worn by police or gendarmes appeared just behind me,” said Mr Leger, who was seated with his back to the door.

“I turned around. He was big, hefty, and had an assault weapon in his hands.

“We still thought it was a joke. The atmosphere was still joyous. But then we smelt the strong odour of gunpowder in the corridor, and we all realised that this wasn’t a joke at all.”