Was Paris Attack Dumb Luck?

[flobadob]

Was the success of the attack on the Paris magazine (from a terrorist perspective), mainly down to luck? Apparently they only gained entry to the building because a woman with her child was there and knew the entry code. If she had not been there at the time, would they have gained entry so quietly? Would they have been able to carry out so many of the killings if they had to force their way into the building?

[naomi24]

Perhaps not so quietly, but I don't think a locked door would have kept them out - and with the weapons they have they'd have done just as much damage.

[ummmm]

They would have just blown the doors open. Might have delayed them by about 10 seconds.

[Gromit]

I do not think it was luck that they struck at that time. The magazine held its weekly editorial meeting then and that would be the one time everyone would be in the building in one place.
If the woman hadn't have been there, they would have just waited for someone else to arrive.
The attack was well planned, and luck didn't come into it.