Gunmen attacked the offices of a French satirical magazine today, killing 12 people and injuring seven. 

Shouting: "We have avenged the Prophet Mohammed," the apparent Islamist attack was carried out by at least two attackers, who opened fire in the Charlie Hebdo office and later shot at police on the street.

The headquarters of the magazine was fire bombed in November 2011 after using a caricature of Mohammed on its front page. 

The last tweet from the Charlie Hebdo social media account was a cartoon of the Islamic State leader group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which some are citing as a motive for the attack. 

A major police hunt is now under way to find the attackers, who killed four of the magazine's well-known cartoonists today, including the editor-in-chief.

Fred Drummond, the Evangelical Alliance's director of prayer, has written a prayer for the situation: 

Holy and merciful God,
We pray for the people of Paris today.
For those who mourn and those lost in the bewilderment and fear of facing violence.
Lord, bring comfort, consolation and peace we pray.
Dry the tears of the broken-hearted and still the hearts of the frightened.
We pray for all who are victims of acts of hatred and violence across our world.
Lord have mercy
In Jesus name

Amen

Image: Cartoonist Luz outside the fire bombed Charlie Hebdo offices in 2011.