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Charlie Hebdo shooting: At least 12 killed as shots fired at satirical magazine's Paris office Charlie Hebdo shooting: At least 12 killed as shots fired at satirical magazine's Paris office
(35 minutes later)
At least 12 people have been killed in a shooting incident at the Paris office of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, police have said. At least 12 people have been killed in a shooting incident at the Paris office of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, police have confirmed.
Witnesses and police officials said that multiple gunmen were involved, and that they were seen armed with AK47s and pump action shotguns. According to France's AFP news agency, the men were armed with at least one rocket launcher. Witnesses said that at least two gunmen were involved, and that they were seen armed with AK-47s and pump-action shotguns. A social media post from France's AFP news agency reported that the men may also have been armed with at least one rocket-launcher.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the death toll had risen to 12, and that up to 10 others were injured. Five were reported to be in a critical condition. Four of France’s best-known satirical cartoonists, including the magazine's editor, were among the dead. A further 12 people were injured, some gravely, in what is the worst terrorist incident in France for 40 years.
Police said that at least 10 people were killed in the initial attack inside the building, or died within minutes because of the seriousness of their injuries. Police said that at least 10 of the killings took place in the initial attack inside the building, or died within minutes because of the seriousness of their injuries.
As the gunmen left in a black car, they met with a police car which was part of the permanent protection given to the magazine after it was firebombed in 2011. The attackers got out of their car and opened fire, killing two officers. As the gunmen left in a black Citroën hatchback, they met with a police car which was part of the permanent protection given to the magazine after it was firebombed in 2011. The attackers got out of their vehicle and opened fire, killing two officers.
Paris has raised its terror alert to the highest setting in the aftermath of the attack, while the gunmen themselves are still reported to be on the run. Below is an edited version of one of the videos.
 
Warning: Viewers may find the following video distressingWarning: Viewers may find the following video distressing
Video footage posted to social media showed armed gunmen running through the streets of Paris, shooting with automatic weapons and shouting "Allahu Akbar". According to an eye-witness, one of the gunmen shouted: "The Prophet is avenged."Video footage posted to social media showed armed gunmen running through the streets of Paris, shooting with automatic weapons and shouting "Allahu Akbar". According to an eye-witness, one of the gunmen shouted: "The Prophet is avenged."
French President Francois Hollande has travelled to the scene in Paris's 11th arrondissement after what he called a "terrorist attack of the most extreme barbarity". Paris has raised its terror alert to the highest setting in the aftermath of the attack, while the gunmen themselves are still reported to be on the run.
Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris A victim is evacuated on a stretcher after armed gunmen stormed the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris He said it was the latest in a series of terrorist incidents on French soil, and that the nation was in a state of shock. The French President Francois Hollande has travelled to the scene in Paris's 11th arrondissement after what he called a "terrorist attack of the most extreme barbarity".
"This is a difficult moment for France," Hollande told reporters. "We have prevented several attacks. We knew that we were still under threat because we are a country that cherishes freedom." He said it was the latest in a series of terrorist incidents on French soil, and that the nation was in a state of shock.
A number of French media outlets reported the dead as including the magazine’s editor and chief cartoonist, Stéphane Charbonnier, known as "Charb" and Jean Cabut or "Cabu", a veteran of several French newspapers and reportedly the highest paid cartoonist in the world. Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris A victim is evacuated on a stretcher after armed gunmen stormed the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris "This is a difficult moment for France," Hollande told reporters. "We have prevented several attacks. We knew that we were still under threat because we are a country that cherishes freedom."
Police confirmed to French media that the dead included the magazine’s editor and chief cartoonist, Stéphane Charbonnier, known as "Charb", and Jean Cabut, or "Cabu", a veteran of several French newspapers and reportedly the highest paid cartoonist in the world.
According to a journalist at the scene, at least one of the police officers killed had been assigned to protect Charb personally.
Charb, editor of Charlie Hebdo Two other cartoonists, Georges Wolinski and Bernard Verlhac, or "Tignous", were also reported as having been killed.
Charb had previously defended a controversial series of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in 2012, saying: "Muhammad isn't sacred to me. I don't blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don't live under Koranic law."Charb had previously defended a controversial series of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in 2012, saying: "Muhammad isn't sacred to me. I don't blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don't live under Koranic law."
French President Francois Hollande (C) arrives after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo Firefighters and police officers gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris A year earlier, the magazine's offices were firebombed after a spoof issue featured a caricature of Mohammed on its cover. The edition "invited" Mohammed to be its guest editor. Charlie Hebdo's editor-in-chief Gerard Biard escaped the carnage because he was in London.
French President Francois Hollande (C) arrives after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo Firefighters and police officers gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris He told France Inter: "I don't understand how people can attack a newspaper with heavy weapons. A newspaper is not a weapon of war."
Mr Biard said he did not believe the attack was linked to the magazine's latest front page, which featured novelist Michel Houellebecq, who has previously sparked controversy with comments about Islam.
And he said the magazine had not received any recent threats of violence: "Not to my knowledge, and I don't think anyone had received them as individuals, because they would have talked about it. There was no particular tension at the moment."
A bullet's impact on the window of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after armed gunmen stormed the offices leaving at least 10 people dead Firefighters carry an injured man on a stretcher in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris A year earlier, the magazine's offices were firebombed after a spoof issue featured a caricature of Mohammed on its cover. The edition "invited" Mohammed to be its guest editor.
According to one report, journalists were discussing a new Islam-themed edition on Wednesday when the gunmen burst in.According to one report, journalists were discussing a new Islam-themed edition on Wednesday when the gunmen burst in.
The latest post sent by the Charlie Hebdo Twitter account was a picture of the Isis militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The latest post made by the Charlie Hebdo Twitter account was a picture of the Isis militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
A bullet's impact on the window of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after armed gunmen stormed the offices leaving at least 10 people dead Firefighters carry an injured man on a stretcher in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris Gilles Boulanger, who works in the same building as the Charlie Hebdo offices, likened the scene to a war zone. Firefighters carry an injured man on a stretcher in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris Police forces gather in street outside the offices in Paris One witness, Gilles Boulanger, who works in the same building as the Charlie Hebdo offices, likened the scene to a war zone.
He told the BBC: "A neighbour called to warn me that there were armed men in the building and that we had to shut all the doors.He told the BBC: "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."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.""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."
Firefighters carry an injured man on a stretcher in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris Police forces gather in street outside the offices in Paris Another witness, Benoit Bringer, told TV station France Info: "We heard shouting in the street. We saw hooded men carrying Kalashnikovs enter the building. We called the police. After a few minutes we heard heavy firing, a lot of firing. We went upstairs onto the roof. French soldiers patrol in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris as the capital was placed under the highest alert status A police car riddled with bullets during an attack on the offices of the newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris Another witness, Benoit Bringer, told TV station France Info: "We heard shouting in the street. We saw hooded men carrying Kalashnikovs enter the building. We called the police. After a few minutes we heard heavy firing, a lot of firing. We went upstairs onto the roof.
"After about 10 minutes we saw two armed men come out into the street. Three policemen arrived on bikes but had to leave because the men were armed. There was a lot more shouting in the street, a lot more gunshots. The attackers took off in a car.""After about 10 minutes we saw two armed men come out into the street. Three policemen arrived on bikes but had to leave because the men were armed. There was a lot more shouting in the street, a lot more gunshots. The attackers took off in a car."
David Cameron led the British response to the unfolding incident, condemning the attack on Twitter.David Cameron led the British response to the unfolding incident, condemning the attack on Twitter.
"The murders in Paris are sickening," he said. "We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press." "The murders in Paris are sickening," he posted. "We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press."
Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary, wrote: "Appalled to hear news of apparent terrorist attack in Paris. My thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed."Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary, wrote: "Appalled to hear news of apparent terrorist attack in Paris. My thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed."
A statement from the White House also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms". "The US stands ready to work closely with the French," it said.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel called it an "attack on freedom of speech".
"This abominable act is not only an attack on the lives of French citizens and their security," a statement read. "It is also an attack on freedom of speech and the press, core elements of our free democratic culture. In no way can this be justified."
A Twitter campaign under the banner #JeSuisCharlie has quickly grown momentum as thousands pledge support for the magazine and to the victims of the attack.A Twitter campaign under the banner #JeSuisCharlie has quickly grown momentum as thousands pledge support for the magazine and to the victims of the attack.
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