French authorities have confirmed that 12 people have died, while some witnesses claim three black-clad gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles stormed the premises.

They later escaped aboard a getaway vehicle.

In 2008, Charlie Hebdo was criticised for running Danish cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed. French police have confirmed that the attackers shouted "The Prophet has been avenged".

Le Point newspaper reports that journalist Charb has died in the attack. Other sources say Charb is wounded but alive.

Charb was the magazine's publishing director. In 2012 he had vehemently defended the magazine's decision to publish cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed.


Pic: A bullet's impact is seen on a window at the scene after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo. Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters