France deploys 10,500 troops after Charlie Hebdo attacks

France has deployed 10,500 soldiers on home soil and posted 5,000 extra police officers to protect key sites to precent further attacks after last week's killing spree by Islamist gunmen,  French defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday.

France has deployed 10,000 soldiers on home soil, 13 January 2015 Reuters/Charles Platiau

"The threats remain and we have to protect ourselves. It is an internal operation that will mobilise almost as many men as we have in our overseas operations," said Le Drian after a cabinet meeting.

Soldiers would guard transport hubs, tourist sites and key buildings and mount general street patrols after the killing of 17 people by Islamist gunmen last week. 

Some 5,000 police officers came in addition to some 4,100 gendarmes already deployed, to protect religious schools and sites such as mosques and synagogues. 

The French parliament is to vote on Tuesday on whether to extend France's military mission in Iraq.

"The response is inside and outside France. Islamic State is a terrorist army with fighters from everywhere (...) it is an international army that has to be wiped out and that is why we are part of the coalition, " said Le Drian, indicating that Paris will not pull back from military operations overseas. 

"We will not give in," said Charlie Hebdo lawyer Richard Malka ahead of the publication of a new edition Wednesday. "The spirit of 'I am Charlie' is the right to blaspheme."

The new edition of Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions, shows the prophet Mohammed with a tear on his cheek and holding a sign "Je suis Charlie" below the headline "All is forgiven". 

Most European newspapers, including the British Independent,  have published the new Charlie Hebdo front page, which has been translated into 16 langages and is to be sold in 25 countries.

On Sunday some 3.7 million people took part in marches throughout France to support Charlie Hebdo.