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                Gunmen Open Fire at Paris-Based Satirical Weekly

   by Lisa Bryant

   French police say at least 12 people are dead after an attack at the
   Paris headquarters of the satirical weekly paper Charlie Hebdo.

   Media reports say at least two gunmen opened fire with automatic rifles
   and a rocket launcher inside the building housing the newspaper's
   offices.  The suspects are believed to have fled in two vehicles.

   According to local media reports, the newspaper staff was holding an
   editorial meeting when the shooting occurred.
   Hollande defends press freedom

   ''Calling it a terrorist attack, French President Francois Hollande
   defended the media. "No act of barbarity will ever extinguish freedom
   of the press," he said.

   France has raised its terrorism alert to the highest level following
   the shooting.
   Hollande, who went to the site of the attack shortly after the
   shootings took place said the chase was on to find the authors of the
   attack and bring them to justice. France is in shock, he said.
   The White House has condemned the attack.
   Eyewitness accounts

   A journalist from a press agency located just across the street
   described the scene to French radio saying many shots were fired from
   Kalashnikov rifles. He then saw two armed and masked people leaving the
   building. The eyewitness said he heard yelling and shots being fired on
   the street, and that police and emergency services arrived a few
   minutes later.

   A neighbor said a man had entered her building asking for Charlie Hebdo
   and speaking in bad French. She said shortly after, shots rang out.
   There are also reports the attackers said their act was to avenge the
   Prophet Mohammed.

   Irreverent tone
   Known for its irreverent tone, the left-wing magazine frequently
   comments on religion and culture.

   It published a satirical cartoon Wednesday on social media depicting
   Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a new year well-wisher.

   Thousands of people took to Facebook and Twitter in support of the
   publication and the cartoon, saying freedom of expression must be
   defended.

   Charlie Hebdo's offices were firebombed in 2011 after it published an
   issue poking fun at the Muslim prophet.

   Muslims also denounced the weekly for later publishing a series of
   crude comics of the prophet.

   Wednesday's shooting coincides with the launch of a controversial
   French book about Muslims in France. Charlie Hebdo has featured the
   cover of the book, "Submission," on its cover.
   [Victoria Macchi contributed to this report from Washington.]
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