"The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere. Coverage of the story was deemed insulting to Muslim Arabs."

This is comparable to not showing the pictures of rapists, bank robbers or murderers when reporting crime here in America because it would be insulting to negros or Mexican illegals!  Or the usual news blackouts when a group of negros attack whites compared to the national headlines when the reverse happens.