EU organs mourn for victims killed in France newspaper attack

The European Union organs here on Thursday mourned for the victims killed in the deadly attack on a newspaper office in Paris.

The European Parliament (EP) observed a minute of silence Thursday morning to commemorate the victims of the deadly attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The members of European Parliament (MEPs) and staff members were joined by members of the public as they stood outside the Parliament building in Brussels to pay their respects to the 12 people who died in the attack.

"Like you, like all of us, I am Charlie," said EP President Martin Schulz in a short statement before the minute of silence.

MEPs have strongly condemned the attack on the satirical magazine and expressed their condolences to the families and the friends of the victims.

EU and French flags at the Parliament have been flown at half-mast since Wednesday out of respect for the victims.

Also on Thursday, the EU flags in front of the European Commission building flew at half-mast to commemorate the victims of the attack. And the Commission marked one minute of silence ahead of its midday briefing.

Heavily armed and masked men stormed the offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in downtown Paris on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people, including the magazine's editor, several celebrated cartoonists and two policemen, and injuring 11 others.

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday branded the shooting an act of terror. Endit