An apparent terrorist-related shooting at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo left at least 12 people dead and wounded 10 more in Paris on Wednesday, police said.
French media reported that armed men wearing black hoods stormed the offices of the publication in a suburb of the city before firing automatic weapons in a scene that police described as “carnage.”
They were heard shouting “Allahu Akbar,” an Islamic phrase that means “God is great.”
Xavier Castaing, head of communications for the Paris police prefecture, confirmed the deaths, the Associated Press reported. Luc Poignant, an official of the SBP police union, said the attackers escaped in two vehicles.
Eyewitness images taken at the time of the attack allegedly show two gunmen apparently abandoning a car.
A massive manhunt is now underway across the French capital to find the perpetrators who may still be heavily armed.
President Francois Hollande, appearing at the scene immediately following the incident, said the shooting was “undoubtedly a terrorist attack” and that several other terror attacks had been thwarted in recent weeks. He described the shooting as an act of terrorism against France.
Hollande announced that France’s terror alert level would now be raised to its highest level and that the assailants — thought to be armed with Kalashnikovs and possibly even a rocket-launcher — would be brought to justice. Security in Paris was immediately stepped up in public places, retail spots, transportation hubs and offices.
At least one police officer was shot and five people were said to be in a critical condition, the president said.
