Twelve killed in terror attack at French satirical magazine in Paris - UPDATE

At least 12 people were shot and killed at the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday. Officials are already calling it a terrorist attack.

When French President Francois Hollande first arrived on the scene, the death toll was at 11, with four others in critical condition. Hollande called it an “act of exceptional barbarism” and called for a cabinet meeting, reports The AFP.

Hollande called for “national unity” and raised the alert level in Paris to its highest level. He also said that other potential terrorist attacks had been stopped in “recent weeks.”

USA Today reports that there were multiple gunmen, who were black hoods as they rushed into the offices. They were heard yelling “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is great.” A radio report also said that one gunman yelled that the “prophet was avenged.”

That appears to be in reference to Charlie Hebdo’s caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Islam strongly opposes its prophet being depicted in works of art.

The attackers have escaped in two vehicles, Luc Poignant, an official of the SBP police union, confirmed. Police have already launched a manhunt to find the attackers, who officials say are still heavily armed. It is believed that they do have a rocket launcher.

The offices of Charlie Hebdo have been attacked in November 2011 and in September 2012 because of cartoons depicting Muhammad.

European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker called the attack “an intolerable act, a barbarism that concerns us all as human beings and Europeans.”


image via Twitter from NBC News

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