See Photos: 12 dead after gunmen armed storm offices of anti-islamic satirical newspaper in France

Twelve people were killed and four left critically wounded today when armed gunmen carried out a 'massacre' at the offices of a notoriously anti-Islamic satirical magazine in Paris.

Two masked men brandishing Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers burst into the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, opening fire on staff.

According to Dailymail, By midday, there were reports of up to 11 people dead and 10 wounded, four critically, including journalists, administrative staff, and police officers who attended the scene.

Pierre de Cossette, a broadcast journalist with Europe1 News, said: 'Several men in black cagoules were heard to shout "the Prophet has been avenged".'

  

Officers were involved in a gunfight with the men, who escaped in a hijacked car and sped away from the 15th arrondissement office, towards east Paris. 

As well as the AK47 assault rifles, there were also reports of a rocket-propelled grenade being used

Florence Pouvil, a salesperson at Lunas France on Rue Nicolas Appert, opposite Charlie Hebdo offices, told MailOnline: 

'I saw two people with big guns, like Kalashnekovs outside our office and then we heard firing. We were very confused.'

'There were two guys who came out of the building and

shot everywhere. We hid on the floor, we were terrified.They came from the building opposite with big guns. It has a bunch of different companies inside. Some of our co-workers work there so we were frightened for them.

'They weren't just firing inside the Charlie Hebdo offices. They were firing in the street too.

'We feared for our lives so we hid under our desks so they wouldn't see us. Both men were dressed in black from head to toe and their faces were covered so I didn't see them.

They were wearing military clothes, it wasn't common clothing, like they were soldiers.'

 A visibly shocked French President François Hollande, speaking live near the scene of the shooting, said:

‘At this moment, there are 11 killed and four critically injured – this is not the final figure.

‘We do not yet know the exact number of victims. The security level in Paris has been raised. We are looking for the perpetrators of this crime.