A major manhunt has been launched in Paris for three gunmen who shot dead 12 people at the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Some media sources say the three killers may have been identified

Eight journalists, including the magazine's editor, and two policemen were among the dead.

Protests over the killings are being held in cities across France. It is the country's deadliest attack in decades.

President Francois Hollande called it a "cowardly murder" and declared a day of national mourning on Thursday.

He said the country's tradition of free speech had been attacked and called on all French people to stand together. "Our best weapon is our unity," Mr Hollande said in a televised address late on Wednesday.

Security has been stepped up across France in the wake of the attack, with Paris placed on the highest alert.

The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was firebombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.

A firefight erupted outside the offices between the attackers and policeWednesday's attack is France's deadliest since 1961

Thousands have gathered at a central square in Paris for a silent vigil

The Paris prosecutor, Francois Molins, said 11 people had been wounded in the attack, four of them seriously.

He told reporters all efforts were being made to find those responsible, without giving any details about the investigation.

"The investigations have been numerous and in-depth, because of course, the police have been mobilised, and these inquiries are going on."

Police said the masked gunmen fled to northern Paris, before abandoning their car and hijacking a second one.

Eyewitnesses said they heard as many as 50 shots fired by the attackers both inside the Charlie Hebdo office and on the streets outside.

The gunmen were captured on amateur video shooting one injured police officer at point blank range in the head on the pavement outside.

They were heard shouting "we have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar").

The attack took place as the magazine was holding its weekly editorial meeting. French media have named three cartoonists killed in the attack as Cabu, Tignous and Wolinski, as well as Charlie Hebdo contributor and French economist Bernard Maris.

Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, 47, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection.

Footage taken from a rooftop in Paris shows two gunmen firing shots

The killings have been condemned by leaders worldwide, with US President Barack Obama offering to help France track down those responsible.

Reuters quotes FBI director James Comey as saying that the US agency was working with France to help investigate the attack.

Thousands of people have gathered at the Place de la Republique in central Paris for a silent vigil, many holding up placards saying "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie), referring to a hashtag that is trending on Twitter in solidarity with the victims.

Piles of pens - symbolising freedom of expression - and candles are being laid in memorials across the square.

Tens of thousands of people have also joined rallies in the cities of Lyon and Toulouse.

US President Barack Obama on "cowardly and evil attacks"

Charlie Hebdo's website, which went offline during the attack, is displaying the single image of "Je suis Charlie" on a black banner. Other major newspapers are displaying similar banners.

The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo's account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was fire-bombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.

People had been "murdered in a cowardly manner", President Hollande told reporters at the scene. "We are threatened because we are a country of liberty," he added, appealing for national unity.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said in a tweet: "The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press."

Charlie Hebdo is part of a venerable tradition in French journalism going back to the scandal sheets that denounced Marie-Antoinette in the run-up to the French Revolution.

The tradition combines left-wing radicalism with a provocative scurrility that often borders on the obscene. Its decision to mock the Prophet Muhammad in 2011 was entirely consistent with its historic raison d'etre.

The paper has never sold in enormous numbers - and for 10 years from 1981, it ceased publication for lack of resources.

But with its garish front-page cartoons and incendiary headlines, it is an unmissable staple of newspaper kiosks and railway station booksellers.

Two of those killed are police officers, France's AFP news agency reports, and several of the wounded are in a critical condition.

Four cartoonists, including the magazine's editor-in-chief Stephane Charbonnier, have been reported killed in the attack. Mr Charbonnier, 47, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection.

Footage shot by an eyewitness apparently from the attack shows two armed men dressed in black approach a wounded police officer lying on a pavement. One of the men shot the officer in the head, before both men were seen running back towards a black vehicle and driving away.

An eyewitness, Benoit Bringer, told French TV channel Itele: "Two black-hooded men entered the building with Kalashnikovs. A few minutes later we heard lots of shots."

The men were then seen fleeing the building.

Gilles Boulanger, who works in the same building as the office, told the same channel: "A neighbour called to warn me that there were armed men in the building and that we had to shut all the doors.

"And several minutes later, there were several shots heard in the building from automatic weapons firing in all directions. So then we looked out of the window and saw the shooting was on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir, with the police. It was really upsetting. You'd think it was a war zone."

After the late morning attack, police warned French media outlets to be on alert and pay attention to security.

The country was already on the alert for Islamist attacks after several incidents just before Christmas.

Cars were driven at shoppers in two cities, Dijon and Nantes, and police were attacked by a man wielding a knife in Tours.

While the French government denied the attacks were linked, it announced plans to further raise security in public spaces, including the deployment of around 300 soldiers.

France raised its alert to the highest level, and reinforced security at houses of worship, stores, media offices and transportation. Top government officials were holding an emergency meeting.

Paris prosecutor's spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre confirmed 12 people were killed.

Luc Poignant, an official of the SBP police union, said the attackers escaped in two vehicles. A witness, Benoit Bringer, told the iTele network he saw multiple masked men armed with automatic weapons at the newspaper's office in central Paris.

The extremist Islamic State group has threatened to attack France, and minutes before the attack Charlie Hebdo had tweeted a satirical cartoon of that extremist group's leader giving New Year's wishes. Charlie Hebdo has been repeatedly threatened for publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, among other controversial sketches, and its offices were firebombed in 2011.

The 2011 firebombing came after a spoof issue featuring a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad on its cover. Nearly a year later, the publication again published crude Muhammad caricatures, drawing denunciations around the Muslim world.

Wednesday's attack comes the same day of the release of a book by a celebrated French novelist depicting France's election of its first Muslim president. Hollande had been due to meet with the country's top religious officials later in the day.

Reactions

Government statement

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government of Malta strongly condemns this morning’s brutal terrorist attack on the headquarters of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, which resulted in twelve deaths and many others injured.

In commenting about the attack, Dr George W. Vella, Minister for Foreign Affairs, conveyed his support to French authorities in bringing those responsible to justice and expressed his solidarity with the families of those killed, the injured and the communities traumatised by this mindless slaughter.

It is envisaged that both Prime Minister Muscat and Minister Vella will be communicating directly with French President Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to reiterate the support of the Government of Malta in the aftermath of the attack.

World’s Press condemns attack against Charlie Hebdo

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum condemns today’s attack against French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo that has left 11 dead and at least four seriously injured.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this outrageous atrocity and stand together with the Charlie Hebdo team and the entire journalistic community in France in demanding justice for the victims,” said WAN-IFRA CEO, Vincent Peyrègne.

“With 61 journalists killed in 2014 and the New Year beginning under such horrific circumstances, we are reminded that an attack of this nature strikes at the heart of the very freedoms that the press in France so passionately defends. It is not just an attack against the press, but also an attack on the fabric of our society and the values for which we all stand. This should be a wake up call for all of us to counter the rising climate of hatred that threatens to fracture our understanding of democracy.”

According to early reports, two heavily armed men entered the offices of the Paris-based weekly satirical magazine and opened fire. Shots were reportedly exchanged between the attackers and police as the two men made their escape. French President Francois Hollande has since confirmed that amongst the dead are journalists and police officers.

The incident has been officially called a terrorist attack and the French capital remains on high alert, with armed police guarding the offices of news organisations across the city.

Today’s incident follows an arson attack in 2011 that destroyed the publication’s then headquarters, located in Paris’ 20th arrondissement. The magazine has been defiant in continuing its critical satirical line despite subsequent threats.

Amnesty International: ‘Dark day for freedom of expression’ as gunmen attack satirical newspaper

This morning’s deadly attack by gunmen on the Paris office of the newspaper Charlie Hebdo is a chilling assault on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said. 

The attack, allegedly carried out by masked gunmen who fled the scene after engaging in a gunfight with police, reportedly left 12 people dead and several more wounded at the newspaper’s office.

"This is a dark day for freedom of expression and a vibrant press culture. But above all, it is an appalling human tragedy,” said Stephan Oberreit, Director of Amnesty International France. 

“It is an atrocity that sought to kill journalists, suppress freedom of expression and sow fear. It must be utterly condemned and the French authorities must ensure all those responsible are brought to justice in a fair trial. Journalists under threat must be protected and allowed to carry out their work without fear of deadly violence.”

Charlie Hebdo, a weekly satirical newspaper based in Paris, has faced controversy in the past for its publication of cartoons deemed to be insulting to Islam. 

Amnesty International notes that freedom of expression extends to ideas of all kinds, including those that may be considered insulting or offensive. 

In the wake of today’s attack, the French government is convening a security meeting and has raised the country’s terror alert to the highest level.

Amnesty International will continue to monitor the situation and the government response. 

EPP Group strongly condemns terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo

“We are deeply shocked by the terrorist attack which has cost many people’s lives today at the Charlie Hebdo headquarters in Paris. The EPP Group strongly condemns these meaningless murders", said Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

“The attack against Charlie Hebdo is an attack against freedom of press and freedom of expression which are core European values, together with freedom of religion. Europe must stand up for these values. We cannot allow those who hate the principles of freedom and democracy, on which our societies are built, put them into question. No religion or political belief can be used to justify murder”, he said.

"Europe must stand united in the fight against terror to protect our citizens and our European models of society. We stand firmly by France’s side in its fight against terrorism.“

Martin Schulz on the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo offices

On behalf of the European Parliament, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of today's terrorist attack in Paris at the offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

We are profoundly shocked by this heinous crime which is an affront to civilised society and we unreservedly condemn such violence.

As Europeans we must never surrender the values which are so close to our hearts and which this act has sought to undermine: the freedom of the press and of expression, tolerance, and mutual respect.

This is a moment of profound sadness which requires a dignified and clear response. Whatever our opinions or religious beliefs we must stand strong and united against such violent acts.  I call on all citizens to defend together the values we cherish.

I also wish a prompt recovery to those injured.

PES President condemns brutal attack at French magazine office: “Today is a dark day for press freedom”

In reaction to the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine today, killing at least 12 people, PES President Sergei Stanishev stated: “Today is a dark day for freedom of the press. This dreadful attack is a terrible blow to democracy, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all the others caught up in this tragic attack. The perpetrators of these cowardly murders must be caught and brought before justice without delay”.

Mr. Stanishev offered his full support and sympathy to the French people, and to all journalists underlining that; “freedom of speech and press are the foundation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. These freedoms define our pluralistic society, a peaceful coexistence between communities where there is no place for extremism or fanatism. Today, more than ever, we must make clear that we will not allow our democracy to be dictated by terrorist acts”.

Charlie Hebdo was also the target of a firebomb attack in 2011, after the magazine published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Large crowds in Place de la Republique

Large crowds are gathering in Place de Republique in central Paris following the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine's office.

 

People hold posters reading 'I am Charlie' as they gather to express solidarity with those killed in an attack at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in Nice, southeastern France

 

 

A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, all three of whom were killed when masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo and reading in French, "Victims of their success, R.I.P", is placed outside the French Embassy as people gather to express solidarity with victims of the attack in Berlin, Germany