Islamists open fire at French Satirical Magazine office - 12 dead

Gunmen have opened fire in the office of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo in central Paris. 12 people were killed including the editor and four celebrated cartoonists. 

The hunt is on all over Paris for the three suspects, presumed to be Islamist militants. And security warnings have been introduced across France, with Paris on the highests level of alert.

It is the deadliest terror attack in France since 1961 during the Algerian War. And the nature of the attack has sparked protests not just all over France, but all over the world.

A protest in the centre of Paris after the attack.

The attack has also sparked a worldwide trend on Twitter #JeSuisCharlie to protest and share their shock at what has happened today.

President Hollande said it was an act of "extreme barbarity" and many foreign leaders have also condemned the attack that took place today.
He also added, "We will win. Nothing will make us renounce our determination. Long live the republic. Long live France."

President Hollande has also marked a national day of mourning on Thursday. 

Many believe the attack was a result of the 2011 incident when the publication named the Prophet Muhammad as it's 'editor-in-chief'. 

Google has added a black ribbon to it's homepage, following the attacks.



Many people protest all across the globe because of what they say is "a violation of free speech."
This is why in many protests, particularly in Paris, people stand silently holding pens in the air.

In London, people have gathered in Trafalgar Square and sing the French national anthem. 

However, BBC Correspondent Frank Gardener notes that this attack did not come out of the blue for the magazine. "The journalists behind Charlie Hebdo had many enemies, and it's decision to publish a string of deemed offensive by some Muslims has essentially made it a target for Islamist extremists.
Witnesses said they heard the militants say "We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad."

Also the United Nations security council has condemned the attack, calling it "barbaric and cowardly."

The BBC has been looking into Charlie Hebdo's mysterious last tweet, which was tweeted around the time of the attack. The BBC have tried to get in contact with Honore, the illustrator who worked on this particular cartoon, but have not heard back yet.

This was Charlie Hebdo's last post on Twitter.

Le Monde, Radio France and France Television stations will help Charlie Hebdo to continue working after the attack.

Hassan Chalghoumi, an imam of the Paris suburb of Drancy visited the site of today's attack. He has too condemned the violence. Of the attackers he said "Their prophet is satan. There is no connection between Islam and this minority."

The Queen has also made a statement, condemning the attack.

At 2pm the French Government sent troop to guard public spaces across Paris.

Also two police officers were killed near the publication's headquarters. This took place after the gunmen fled the building and exchanged shots with the two officers before they fled by car. 

They later abandoned this car and hijacked another.