China strongly condemns Paris attack

French police officers stand guard near the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France, Jan. 7, 2015. The office of Paris Prosecutor of the Republic confirmed at least 12 people were killed on Wednesday in a shooting at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, adding four others were seriously wounded in the "terror attack." (Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei)

China strongly condemned a deadly terrorist attack on the offices of a French newspaper in Paris, a Chinese spokesman said on Wednesday.

"We are deeply shocked at the terrorist attack and strongly condemn it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "We mourn for the victims and express sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured."

The Chinese side firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the efforts made by the French side to safeguard domestic security, Hong added.

Three masked and heavily armed men stormed the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in downtown Paris, earlier in the day, killing at least 12 people, including two policemen, and injuring 11 others with four in critical condition.

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