Manhunt Continues In Paris Following Terrorist Attack

A manhunt is underway in Paris for three suspects police believe stormed a newspaper office Wednesday morning, murdering 12 people in an extremist terrorist attack.

Authorities in the highly-popular city of Paris have stepped up security measures at popular landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, while media coverage shows investigators scanning the street outside of the terrorist attack for clues relating to DNA or other physical evidence.

The attack took place Wednesday morning, when three masked gunmen entered the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, and began firing and staff, killing the newspaper's well-known editor, multiple cartoonists and others.

Witnesses filmed the three men then fleeing the scene in waiting vehicles. The men reportedly shouted "Alluha Akbar," or "God is great," while others reported that the gunmen said "we have avenged the prophet."

Charlie Hebdo was known for publishing cartoons and articles critical of Islam and the Islamic State terrorist organization. Some criticized the newspaper for publishing cartoons that referenced the prophet Mohamed, a move that is considered blasphemous in the Arabic culture.

Police are now saying that Wednesday morning's attack was planned by the gunmen. The men arrived at around 11:30 a.m. and demanded their way inside the building just in time for the newspaper's weekly editorial meeting, when all key members of staff would be present.

One witness watching from a nearby building said the gunmen proclaimed they had killed Charlie Hedbo upon leaving the newspaper office, but U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry offered strong words for those who believe they can silence freedom of the press.

"The murderers dared proclaim Charlie Hebdo is dead," Kerry said from Washington. "But make no mistake, they are wrong. Today, and tomorrow, in Paris, in France and across the world, the freedom of expression this magazine represented is not able to be killed by this kind of act of terror."