A top al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader has released a video claiming responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack and warning the West of more "tragedies and terror".

Nasr al-Ansi, a top commander of AQAP as the branch is known, appeared in an 11-minute video posted Wednesday, saying that the massacre at Charlie Hebdo was in "vengeance for the Prophet."

Twelve people were killed when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi launched their assault during an editorial meeting in the magazine’s offices.

The paper had in the past published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed and today released the first edition since the massacre of its offices which also depicts Mohamed.

One the Kouachi brothers was filmed shouting "we are avenging the Prophet" after the killings at Charlie Hebdo.

The video, entitled "A message regarding the Blessed Battle of Paris', was released via the Al-Malahem Media arm of the group.

In it, Al-Ansi said France belongs to the "party of Satan" and warned of more "tragedies and terror." He claimed the al-Qaeda branch "chose the target, laid out the plan and financed the operation".

He highlights "crimes" committed in Central Africa, saying: "Look at it. It is France that has shared all of America's crimes. It is France that has committed crimes in Mali and the Islamic Maghreb. It is France that supports the annihilation of Muslims in Central Africa in the name of race cleansing."

Al-Ansi also called for Muslim youth to "rise up" and described the Paris shooting as " a new turning point in the history of confrontation".

The video used footage of the 9/11 attacks, the Paris shooting, images of the attackers and quoted threats from deceased leader Osama bin Laden.

Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Show all 15 1 /15 Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo The latest edition of Charlie Hebdo magazine, featuring a cartoon of the Prophet Mohamed on the front cover Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo The first edition of Charlie Hebdo after 12 people were massacred at its offices AFP/Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo A woman reads the first edition of Charlie Hebdo after 12 people were massacred at its offices AFP/Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo As people march in Paris and the Arc de Triomphe displays the slogan 'Paris is Charlie', the tomb of the unknown soldier says "I have an erection!" AFP/Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo A cartoon showing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions carving up the world, mirroring the post-war Yalta Conference between Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. The Catholic figure says he will guard the West and directs the Jewish figure to guard the East. AFP/Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo What future for our jihadists? 'Security guard at Carrefour?' AFP/Getty Images Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo A man pays for his new Charlie Hebdo edition at a newsstand in Paris Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo People browse a newsstand advertising "We don't have any more Charlie Hebdo". Charlie Hebdo's defiant new issue sold out before dawn around Paris, with scuffles at kiosks over dwindling copies of the paper Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo People wait to buy the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo newspaper at a newsstand in Rennes Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo People wait outside a newsagents in Paris Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo A sign which translates as "Charlie Hebdo - Sold Out - Next deliveries on Thursday, Friday and Saturday" is displayed at a newsagents in Strasbourg Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo The depiction of the Prophet Mohamed on the front cover has offended many Muslims AP Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo People wait outside a newsagents in Dunkirk for a copy of the magazine AFP Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo Members of the public queue at a newspaper kiosk, where copies of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo magazine are being sold in Paris Getty Charlie Hebdo: The first edition since the Paris massacre Charlie Hebdo The new edition of Charlie Hebdo is prepared for delivery at a press distribution center in the suburb of Marne La Valle in Paris

In a translation of the video under the heading "Our message to the Western nation", it added: "We have warned you before about the consequences of these deeds that your governments collude with under the pretext of 'freedom of press' or 'freedom of ideas'.

"The freedom that is always tamed except when spreading vile and waging war on Allah and His Messengers and defaming the religion.

"We tell you once again: Stop your insults on our Prophet and sanctities. Stop spilling our blood. Leave our lands. Quit plundering our resources. Otherwise, by Allah, do not expect of us except tragedies and terror. You will look for peace and stability but you will not find it."