Ten people who worked at or with the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo and two police officers were killed on Wednesday in an attack at the publication's Paris offices. At least 11 others were wounded, four of whom are in critical condition, and a massive manhunt for the gunmen is under way.

Masked men shouted "Allahu akbar!" as they stormed the building, security officials confirmed. French TV stations showed eyewitness video of two men wearing black and carrying large guns leaving Charlie Hebdo’s offices after they carried out the attack.

Below, we've rounded up what we know about the victims who were killed.

Stéphane Charbonnier ("Charb"), editor in chief and publisher of Charlie Hebdo

Stéphane Charbonnier displays the front page of the magazine in Paris in Septemeber 2012. Image: Michel Euler, File

Stéphane Charbonnier, known simply as "Charb" to readers of the magazine, faced years of death threats over the publication's various lampoons of the Prophet Muhammad. He began living with police protection after the Charlie Hebdo offices were fired-bombed in 2011.

“The only thing that threatens the press is self-censorship,” he told France 24 shortly after the attack.

He was named as one of al-Qaeda's "most wanted" in a 2013 issue of "Inspire."

Stephane Charbonnier, aka "Charb," was #CharlieHebdo's editor. Here he is after the magazine was firebombed in 2011: pic.twitter.com/rI5JLZzQ0V — Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 7, 2015

But Charbonnier refused to relent.

"Mohammed isn't sacred to me," Charbonnier told the Associated Press in 2012. "I don't blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don't live under Quranic law."

"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees," he said toLe Monde that same year, adding that he had "no fear of retaliation."

Minutes before the deadly rampage, Charlie Hebdo tweeted his last satirical cartoon, featuring the leader of the extremist Islamic State organisation giving wishes for the New Year. Entitled “Still No Attacks in France”, the cartoon pictured an extremist fighter saying, “Just wait – we have until the end of January to present our New Year's wishes.”

He was the first person killed in what French President Francois Hollande has condemned as an act of "extreme barbarity." The gunmen reportedly asked for Charbonnier by name while the staff assembled in an editorial meeting, according to Christophe Crepin, a police union spokesman on the scene.

Jean Cabut, lead cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo

Jean Cabut on Oct. 12, 2012, during an exhibition in Paris. Image: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images

Jean Cabut, 76, was the magazine's lead cartoonist. He was known by his pen name Cabu.

He was just 15 when he published his first drawings in a local daily in Reims, in the Champagne region. Cabu would go on to become one of France’s best-known cartoonists in a career that spanned 60 years and produced more than 35,000 drawings. His bushy hair, round spectacles and broad smile made him instantly recognizable.

“He was the most skilful cartoonist of his generation, everyone imitates him,” said Willem, who draws for left-leaning daily Libération.

“Sometimes laughter can hurt, but laughter, humor and mockery are our only weapons,” he said in 2012 interview.

Bernard Verlhac, cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo

Bernard Verlhac, known by his pen name Tignous — which means “little pest” in southern dialect according to France 24 — was also killed in Wednesday's shooting. He was 58.

Like Charb, he was known for his left-wing views and stinging criticism of market capitalism. His last comic book, “Five years under Sarkozy”, includes a collection of all his drawings on Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency.

Tignous was a member of a group of artists called Cartoonists for Peace.

He once said of his membership: “I would love to think that every time I make a drawing it prevents a kidnapping, a murder, or removes a land mine. What joy it would be! If I had that power I would stop sleeping and would make drawings non-stop.”

Georges Wolinski, cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo

Georges Wolinski during the 61st International film festival in Cannes, France, on May 16, 2008. Image: Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Georges Wolinski, 80, was a Tunisia-born cartoonist who died alongside his colleagues Cabu, Tignous and Charb. Le Monde called him a "living embodiment of the freedom of the press" and a "dean and the spiritual father" to many cartoonists on Wednesday.

Wolinski once said that a humorist doesn't belong to any political party or religion. Asked about his own eventual death, Wolinski replied, "I want to be cremated. I said to my wife, you throw the ashes in the toilet so I see your ass every day."

He also joked that he would like his grave to bear the following words by his friend and Charlie Hebdo founder Cavanna: “People think Wolinski is a fool because he behaves like a fool, but the truth is he really is a fool."

Bernard Maris, economist at Charlie Hebdo

Bernard Maris posing in Paris in an undated photo. Image: Eric Fougere/VIP Images/Corbis

Bernard Maris, a French economist, author and columnist who wrote under the pen name "Uncle Bernard," was killed in the attack, according to the BBC and Radio France. He was 68.

Philippe Honoré, cartoonist

Philippe HonorÃ©. Image: AFP / Getty Images

Honoré, 73, has been part of Charlie Hebdo since 1992 and published two or three images each week for the publication, specializing in riddles. The talented cartoonist had his first cartoon published at 16 years old, according to French newspaper Le Monde.

Honoré was the artist behind the last cartoon posted by Charlie Hebdo on Twitter before the carnage. It mocked Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Mustapha Ourrad, copy editor

Ourrad was born in Algeria yet moved to France when he was 20 years old and made a career for himself in publishing, according the Le Monde.

Elsa Cayat, columnist

Cayat, an author, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, wrote essays for Charlie Hebdo twice a month, according the French publication, Libertation.

Frédéric Boisseau, maintenance worker

The 42-year-old and father-of-two was killed by the gunmen at the office building of Charlie Hebdo where he is the maintenance worker for the building. 20Minutes.fr reported Boisseau was shot after the armed assailants asked for the exact location of the editorial team.

Michel Renaud, a guest

A handout picture dated November 2014 shows French caricaturist Cabu (L) and president and founder of the festival, Michel Renaud (R) during the 15th 'Rendez-vous Carnet de Voyage' festival in Clermont Ferrand, France.

Michel Renaud, creator of Carnet de voyage, a travel journal, was at the offices of Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday to work on an upcoming project. He was a friend of Jean Cabut, the cartoonist, who was guest of honor in the latest edition. One of Renaud's colleagues reportedly survived the attack by hiding under a table. Renaud was killed in the attack, according to a Paris prosecutor.

Ahmed Merabet, police officer

Ahmed Merabet, age 42, was named by a Paris prosecutor as one of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

He was killed outside the building after he encountered the gunman while patrolling the 11th arrondissement. It is unknown if he is the same officer seen being shot at close range in eyewitness video that aired on French television earlier on Wednesday. "He leaves behind a wife," departmental secretary of the union SGP Police Unit, Rocco Contento, said. "We are all extremely shocked."

Franck D., special protection service

Franck D., 49, was named as the second police officer killed in the attack.

French media say he was a member of the special protection service (SPHP) assigned to Stéphane Charbonnier. Colleagues told Le Figaro he leaves behind a young daughter.

Eleven others were injured in the attack.

Additional reporting by France 24.