A terrorist attack at the headquarters of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has left 12 dead. The attacks, which happened Wednesday morning, has led to a manhunt in search of the attackers and has heightened security not only in Paris, but all of Europe.

Men wearing all black entered the magazine’s offices wielding Kalashnikov assault rifles and opened fire on cartoonists and other staff at Charlie Hebdo, one of France’s most prominent satire magazines, reports the Telegraph.

The men fled in a black Citroen DS, injuring various pedestrian as they escaped and also wounding a police officer.

Among those killed are four of France’s most prominent cartoonists, reports the Independent. They are Stephane “Charb” Charbonnier, who was also the magazine’s editor; Jean “Cabu” Cabut, Georges Wolinksi and Bernard “Tignous” Verlhac.

Eyewitnesses report the men said: “The Prophet has been avenged.”

According to the BBC, seven were injured in the shooting. Three men are believed to be involved, authorities say. They exchanged fire with police.

France 24 reports, via L'Humanite, cartoonist Corinne Rey, known as “Coco,” allowed the shooters in at gunpoint.

“They shot Wolinski, Cabu… it lasted about five minutes… I took cover under a desk… they spoke perfect French… they said they were Al Qaida,” she said.

Two police officers have also been killed, including one who was part of Charbonnier’s security detail. The magazine’s chief editor had lately received various death threats.

President Francois Hollande condemned the attacks, calling it a terrorist attack, reports NBC News.

“We will find the people who did this," he said. "France is today shocked by this terrorist attack."

The international community and various organizations have condemned the attacks on France and freedom of speech.

Below are photos of the four cartoonists killed. From clockwise from top left: Cabu, Tignous, Wolinksi and Charb.

The international community and various organizations have condemned the attacks on France and freedom of speech. Human Rights Watch released a statement condemning the attack on Twitter.

So did British Prime Minister David Cameron, who also spoke in Parliament about the attack.

President Barack Obama also denounced the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and pledged American support for France.

Charlie Hebdo had been targeted before for its satirist content, which at times poked fun at Islamic extremism. According to the Telegraph, the magazine’s offices were fire bombed in 2011, forcing them to move to their current offices.

The 2011 attack happened because the magazine made the Prophet Mohammed editor-in-chief and renamed the magazine “Sharia Hebdo.” The Prophet said on the cover: “100 lashes if you don't die of laughter".