Summary

  • Gunmen have attacked the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 people including the editor and celebrated cartoonists

  • The hunt is on for three suspects, named by police as Hamyd Mourad and brothers Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi.

  • It is the deadliest terror attack in France since 1961 during the Algerian war

  • President Hollande said it was an act of "extreme barbarity", with many foreign leaders also condemning the attack

  • In 2011, the satirical publication was firebombed after naming the Prophet Muhammad as its "editor-in-chief"

Live Reporting

Mohamed Madi, Sherie Ryder, Julia Macfarlane, Alastair Beach and Victoria Park

  1. Large crowds in Place de la Republique

    Large crowds are gathering in Place de Republique in central Paris following the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine's office.

    People gather at the Place de la Republique (Republic square) in Paris, on January 7, 2015, following an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo.AFP

  2. In pictures: Gun attack on Charlie Hebdo

    The BBC has put together a photo gallery of the attack today at Charlie Hebdo magazine:

    pic c

  3. Minute's silence

    French football club Lille has said it will hold a minute's silence before its forthcoming match against Evian. Both clubs are due to wear black armbands for the tie.

  4. Rally in Republic Square

    People are holding up pens and pencils at a rally in Paris's Republic Square.

    A man raises a pen during a rally in support of the victims of today"s terrorist attack on French satyrical newspaper Charlie Hebdo at the Place de la Republique in Paris, on January 7, 2015AFP

  5. Vigil in Trafalgar Square

    British newspaper The Independent tweets that there will be a vigil in London's Trafalgar Square this evening in solidarity with Charlie Hebdo magazine

    twitterTwitter

  6. Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, condemns attack

    Ian Hislop

    The editor of British satirical magazine Private Eye Ian Hislop has released a statement to the British press on the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

    "I am appalled and shocked by this horrific attack - a murderous attack on free speech in the heart of Europe.

    I offer my condolences to the families and friends of those killed - the cartoonists, journalists and those who were trying to protect them.

    They paid a very high price for exercising their comic liberty.

    Very little seems funny today."

  7. Charlie Hebdo's final tweet

    BBC Trending has published a post looking into Charlie Hebdo's mysterious final tweet before the attack in Paris.

    "Is it just a coincidence that this image was tweeted at around the time of the attack? The illustration bears the signature of Honoré, a famous French illustrator - but it's unclear whether it's his work or when it was actually drawn. BBC Trending has tried to contact Honoré and will post an update if we hear back from him."

    tweetJulia Macfarlane

  8. Statement of support

    Luc Bronner, an editor from Le Monde, has tweeted a copy of a joint statement from Radio France, Le Monde and France Télévisions offering technical support to help Charlie Hebdo continue working after today's attack.

  9. #CharlieHebdo demonstration in Lyon

    #CharlieHebdo demonstration in LyonMarine Duc

    @marchanddenuage took this photo of a demonstration in Lyon, France.

  10. Stuart Parker, Publisher

    emails: Simply to add our name to the growing list of publishers who in their own small way offer their support to the friends and family of those journalists who were killed and injured in today's attack in Paris. My father fought in WW2 along with many others to secure all our freedoms - freedom of speech being the upmost freedom.

  11. Controversial cartoons

    Despite speculation that the attack was a response to Charlie Hebdo's run of controversial cartoons, some publications are taking the decision to reprint them. In Egypt, the daily Al Masry Al Youm newspaper has run a selection of the magazine's illustrations - including the recent cartoon lampooning Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State.

  12. David Pope, Political cartoonist @ The Canberra Times

    tweets: Can't sleep tonight, thoughts with my French cartooning colleagues, their families and loved ones #CharlieHebdo See photo

  13. Le Monde runs cartoon tribute

    Le Monde has run the following cartoon from Plantu, one of its regular illustrators, in tribute to the victims of today's attack. It says "With Charlie Hebdo, wholeheartedly."

    Le Monde cartoon, 7 January 2014Le Monde

  14. Get involved

    @chrisPcritttertweets: Much respect to #CharlieHebdo for their bravery and fearlessness in their mission and art. #JeSuisCharlie

  15. Paris imam condemns attack

    Hassan Chalghoumi - an imam of the Paris suburb of Drancy, visited the site of the attack at Charlie Hebdo headquarters.

    Of the attackers, he said: "Their prophet is Satan. There is no connection between the Islamic faith and this minority."

    Hassen Chalghoumi (L, white skull cap), Imam of Drancy"s mosque, arrives at the headquarters of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, 2015AFP

  16. Statement from Salman Rushdie, British author

    The Booker Prize-winning writer has released the following statement: "Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms.

    "This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today.

    "I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.

    "'Respect for religion' has become a code phrase meaning 'fear of religion.' Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect."

  17. Tradition of irreverence

    Charlie Hebdo typified the long-running tradition of scurrilous French satire. Here is one of its more provocative front pages from 2012, showing an Orthodox Jew pushing an old Muslim in a wheelchair, both shouting "You mustn't make fun!"

    Charlie Hebdo covercharlie hebdo

    A reminder, we profile the magazine here: Charlie Hebdo and its satirical role

  18. BritishMonarchy

    tweets: The Queen has sent this message to @fhollande and the people of France following the attack in #Paris today. See photo

  19. Get involved

    Adam: For those who know Charlie Hebdo they are a satirical publication. They cover any topics, any religion. Does a small group of lunatics really think they can shut freedom of speech and press with their violence?

  20. Human Rights Watch statement

    The horrific attack at the Charlie Hebdo office on January 7, 2015, led to the death of 12 people, including two policemen.

    Nothing can justify such an attack and those who organised and committed these crimes should be brought to justice, Human Rights Watch said.

    France should protect freedom of expression and guard against any backlash against particular groups.