Everyone from World leaders to journalists and worldwide citizens have expressed horror at the deadly attack Wednesday by gunmen on the Paris offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo

The Muslim Council of France, and of Britain have denounced the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo. The imam of the mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, has said:

“This is a thunderous declaration of war. The times have changed. We’re entering a new phase of this confrontation… we are horrified by the brutality and the savagery”

"I don't understand how people can attack a newspaper with heavy weapons. A newspaper is not a weapon of war." — Charlie Hebdo editor-in-chief Gerard Biard to France Inter radio.

"The fact that this was an attack on journalists, attack on our free press, also underscores the degree to which these terrorists fear freedom of speech and freedom of the press." — President Barack Obama.

"Regardless of the motive, homicidal violence is abominable and never justified. Life and human dignity must be guaranteed with decisiveness, and every instigation of hatred refuted and respect cultivated." — Pope Francis, according to the Vatican spokesman.

"We condemn ... this hateful, criminal act. ... While the terrorists are intensifying their acts to exacerbate the confrontation inside our country, both Muslim and Christians have to intensify their actions to give more strength to this dialogue, to make a united front against extremism." — Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the Union of French mosques.

Gunmen have shot dead 12 people at the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in what appears to be a militant Islamist attack.

Four of the magazine's well-known cartoonists, including its editor, were among those killed, as well as two police officers.

A major police operation is under way to find three gunmen who fled by car.

President Francois Hollande said there was no doubt it had been a terrorist attack "of exceptional barbarity".

It is believed to be the deadliest attack in France since 1961, when right-wingers who wanted to keep Algeria French bombed a train, killing 28 people.

The masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles in the office and exchanged shots with police in the street outside before escaping by car. They later abandoned the car in Rue de Meaux, northern Paris, where they hijacked a second car.

In a message to French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Benkirane condemned this horrible attack and said he was appalled by the criminal and terrorist act against French citizens, said a statement by the Head of government’s office.

 Benkirane, who voiced his full solidarity with Valls as well as with the French people, said that Islam is a religion of coexistence, tolerance and peace and not a religion of crime and revenge, commending Valls’ stand of rejecting any linking between terrorism and Islam.

 The Head of government also asked Valls to convey his condolences to the victims’ families, wishing peace and security to the French people and all the people around the globe.

With Press