Cameron, Merkel deplore Paris attack

LONDON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel were united Wednesday in their condemnation of the attack on the office of a magazine in Paris.

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, in the "terror attack."

Cameron and Merkel, who were holding talks in London Wednesday, issued their statement following the attack.

"What has happened in Paris is an appalling terrorist outrage and I know that everyone in Britain will want to stand with the French government and with the French people at this time," Cameron said in the statement published by Downing Street.

"We must never allow the values that we hold dear, of democracy, of freedom of speech to be damaged by these terrorists," he added.

The prime minister said he felt "huge sympathy for everyone in France, particularly for the families of those who have lost loved ones."

"We will stand with you at this time and I know that Chancellor Merkel will absolutely agree with me that everyone should combine to condemn completely this outrage and stand with the French people at this time," he noted.

Merkel, on her part, said: "What has happened in Paris today is indeed a barbarous attack against all of the values we share."

"All of us that live in Europe strongly condemn these attacks and our thoughts go out to the French people and particularly to those who have lost loved ones in this horrendous attack," she said.

Stressing shared values with the French, the chancellor continued: "This is an attack against the values we all hold dear, values by which we stand, values of freedom of the press, freedom in general and the dignity of man."

"And again our thoughts are with the French people with all of those who have lost loved ones in this horrific attack and everything we can do to help the French we will certainly do," she added.

The two leaders also spoke to French President Francois Hollande over phone to discuss the matter, Cameron told a joint press conference with Merkel.

"We told him our thoughts are with the French people and offered any help that is needed," he said.