Gunmen-kill-11-Charlie-Hebdo-attack.html

Masked gunmen storm Paris headquarters with AK-47s shouting 'Allahu akbar!' and 'the Prophet has been avenged'
Stalked building asking for people's names before killing the editor and cartoonist during weekly editorial meeting
Horrific footage shows a police officer begging for his life before being shot in the head at point-blank rangeA
Killers fled in stolen car across eastern Paris after a 'mass shoot-out' with police officers and remain on the loose
Newspaper was previously firebombed in 2011 for publishing satirical cartoon of Prophet Mohammed

By Simon Tomlinson and Peter Allen and Jay Akbar and Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 11:16 GMT, 7 January 2015 | Updated: 13:40 GMT, 7 January 2015

Twelve people were killed when armed gunmen carried out a 'massacre' at the offices of a notoriously anti-Islamic magazine in Paris - including a police officer who was executed as he begged for mercy on the pavement.

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

Police officers were involved in a gunfight with the men, who escaped in a hijacked car, speeding away towards east Paris and remain on the loose.

There are unconfirmed reports the attackers stalked the building asking for people by name before killing senior staff.

Local news outlet Le Point has reported that cartoonists editor Stephane Charbonnier, cartoonist Jean Cabu, Bernard 'Tignous' Verlhac and George Wolinski are among the employees killed.

Horrific footage also emerged showing an injured police officer slumped on the pavement outside the building as the two gunmen approach.

In an apparent desperate plea for his life, the officer is seen slowly raising his hand towards one of the attackers, who responds by callously shooting him in the head at point-blank range.

By midday, there were reports of up to 12 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'.'

Scroll down for videos and audio

+15

Brutal execution: A police officer pleads for mercy on the pavement in Paris before being shot in the head by masked gunmen during an attack on the headquarters of the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, a notoriously anti-Islamic publication

+15

'Massacre': The gunmen brandishing Kalashnikovs are seen outside the offices of French satiricial newspaper Charlie Hebdo

+15

Emergency: Police officers and firefighters gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris today after gunmen stormed the building