In a sensational development which comes just 2 days into the aftermath from the attack on the offices of satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, in Paris on Wednesday, the editor of the British equivalent of the French publication, Private Eye, Ian Hislop, has reportedly been overpowered by magazine staff as he entered the premises this morning dressed in full combat gear and wearing a balaclava mask. 

 

First reports say that the 54 year old satirist and regular panellist on popular TV quiz show, Have I Got News For You, was carrying an AK47 assault rifle and had a number of grenades hanging from his belt.

 

A visibly shaken editorial staff member told reporters outside the magazine's London offices: "We were just beginning the weekly editorial meeting when a masked gunmen burst into the room and began spraying bullets around. We all dived under the table for cover, but the tea lady wasn't so lucky and took a full burst of automatic fire right in the chest. The poor woman hadn't even had a chance to take the cosy off the pot"

 

"Then there was a brief pause while he changed the magazine clip so we all rushed him and managed to wrestle him to the ground. One of the cartoon boys yanked off his mask and that's when we realised it was Ian. It came as a bit of a surprise I don't mind telling you"

 

Speculation is rife that Hislop may have been trying to boost The Eye's flagging circulation by initiating a copy cat attack, mirroring the assault on Charlie Hebdo, which has seen a huge increase in advance orders for their forthcoming issue following Wednesday's tragic events.

 

Press Association