
Cartoonists across the world have flooded the streets and the internet with powerful drawings in defiance of the armed gunmen who attempted to silence the satirical French newspaper, Charlie Hebdo.

Three men stormed the publication’s building in Paris on Wednesday, where they shot dead 12 people and injured 11. Amongst the victims were 10 journalists and at least four cartoonists.

Charlie Hebdo was well known for its controversial images which regularly satirised Islam amongst other religions, while the newspaper’s latest tweet featured a cartoon of Abu Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State.

As tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets across the world to show support for those who were slaughtered, cartoonists everywhere took to their drawing pads in an effort to prove that pens are far mightier than swords.

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Cartoonists across the world, including Australian David Pope, have flooded the internet with touching drawings to show support and solidarity for the victims of the Charlie Hebdo terrorism attack

Many of the cartoons included pens or pencils to represent the victims: This one, originally thought to be by Graffiti artist Banksy, was liked more than 82,000 times on Instagram. It appears to be the work of illustrator Lucille Clerc

This image by The Independent's cartoonist Dave Brown, was retweeted by over 22,000 people including author J.K. Rowling

'And this is our gun!' A Chilean caricaturists thought up this clever image after the distressing event, which saw 12 people die and 11 injured

Illustrator James Walmesley's cartoon received 4,200 retweets within nine hours of being shared online

Using the hashtag #jesuischarlie, meaning I am Charlie in French, artists shared their own powerful and often satirical sketches to advocate for free press, denounce violence and mourn their innocent colleagues from the French publication.

One of the most widely shared drawings, which was shared more than 62,000 times and favourite by over 29,000 people within 13 hours of hitting the internet, was penned by The Canberra Times' cartoonist David Pope.

'Can't sleep tonight, thoughts with my French cartooning colleagues, their families and loved ones,' Mr Pope wrote alongside his drawing on Twitter.

An image by The Independent's cartoonist Dave Brown, which showed a hand coming out of a Charlie Hebdo magazine with its middle finger displayed as blood-red ink spills across the page, has been shared by over 22,000 Twitter users, including author J.K. Rowling.

Dutch cartoonist Ruben Oppenheimer alluded to the 9/11 terror attacks in New York with his thoughtful cartoon which received over 20,000 retweets

Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff's cartoon shared a different message: while two gunman were drawn shooting into a building labelled as the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, the bullets are also shown hitting an Islamic building

Supportive cartoons came from artists as far and wide as India, Egypt, Brazil, Canada, Spain and Belgium

French artist Boulet's cartoon portrays the magazine as a duck, flying above a gunman. The words roughly translate to 'the ducks always fly higher than the guns', using the French slang for ducks which can also mean newspaper

Egyptian cartoonist Cheb Makhlouf drew this cartoon along with the words 'we know that our weapon is stronger than your weapon'

Meanwhile Indian artist Satish Acharya's image satirised the event with the pictured speech bubble

Many of the cartoons included pens or pencils to represent the victims, with some depicting a sharpened pencil claiming retribution against its attackers

One cartoon with this theme was drawn and shared gaining over 82,000 likes in six hours on Instagram alone. Originally credited to graffiti artist Banksy, it is thought to be the work of illustrator Lucille Clerc.

Supportive cartoons came from artists as far and wide as India, Egypt, Brazil, Canada, Spain and Belgium.

Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff's cartoon shared a different message: while two gunman were drawn shooting into a building labelled as the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, the bullets were shown travelling through the office and into an Islamic building.

'Please, RT! Attack has another victim!' Mr Latuff wrote alongside his cartoon.

Nate Beeler was one of many artists who advocated for free press within his satirical drawing

The Washington Post's editorial cartoonist Tom Toles wrote 'but the pen will endure and the line will be drawn' on his illustration

Many of the images, including this one by Rob Tornoe, depicted sharpened pencils and pens claiming retribution against their attackers

Ffench cartoonist Gilles van Kote from the publication Le Monde wrote 'Wholeheartedly with Charlie Hebdo' in his image

Dutch cartoonist, Ruben Oppenheimer, compared the event to the September 11 attacks on the world Trade Centre in New York with his cartoon that showed a plane flying towards two erected pencils.

Each one resonated deeply with the words of the paper's editor and cartoonist, Stephane Charbonnier, who in 2012 said 'I would rather die standing than live kneeling' a year after the building had been firebombed for publishing a satirical cartoon about the Prophet Mohammed.

Mr Charbonnier and his police bodyguard were the first people to be killed in the attack.

'In memory of my colleagues and friends from Charlie Hebdo' Patrick Chappatte, a cartoonist for The International New York Times, wrote

Dutch cartoonist Joep Bertrams published this gruesome yet powerful illustration which received over six thousand shares

Freedom of speech: This drawing by Michael de Adder, a Canadian cartoonist, shows a group of people trying to stop an illistrator's hand

A picture is worth a thousand words, as is depicted in this image by MacLeod Cartoons, with a clear message against violence

Cartoonist Martha Richler penned this sketch, depicting a woman as liberty clutching a French flag and a pen

This cartoon style drawing, which reads: 'The pencil is the most peaceful weapon, don't mess with humor' was hung outside France's embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina