Turning to Twitter, Renzi said: “Horror and dismay for the massacre in Paris, thoughts with [French President Francois] Hollande in this terrible moment, violence will always lose against freedom.”
Orrore e sgomento per la strage di Parigi,vicinanza totale a Hollande in questo momento terribile, violenza perderà sempre contro la libertà
— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) January 7, 2015
At least 12 people, including two police officers, died when three masked gunmen opened fire at the office of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo.
LIVE: Fatal shooting at offices of French mag
The Italian prime minister’s reaction of shock followed that of Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who described the deadly shooting as “dreadful”.
“A dreadful attack at Charlie Hebdo. Italy’s thoughts are with the families of the victims and the people and the French government in the fight against terror,” he wrote on Twitter.
Infame assalto a #CHARLIE_HEBDO Italia vicina a famiglie delle vittime e al popolo e al Governo francesi nella lotta al terrore
— Paolo Gentiloni (@PaoloGentiloni) January 7, 2015
The French capital was under the highest terror alert on Wednesday afternoon after the gunmen fled the scene following a shootout with police.
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Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the satirical newspaper #CharlieHebdo Photo: Anne Gelbard #AFP pic.twitter.com/k669PHgVw5
— AFP Photo Department (@AFPphoto) January 7, 2015