The Islamic State (ISIS) militants have hailed the three gunmen, who stormed the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo weekly and killed 12 people, as "heroic jihadists".
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical Islamist organisations in the media, reported that the militant group in an audio bulletin noted that the 'jihadists' were heroes, who had avenged 'Allah.'
The audio bulletin reportedly was distributed on Twitter and jihadi forums on Thursday.
"We start our bulletin with France. Heroic jihadists killed 12 journalists and wounded ten others working in the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, and that was support for our master (Prophet) Mohammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him," the ISIS said in the audio bulletin reported Reuters.
Meanwhile, the hunt for the two brothers -- Sharif Kouachi, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34, -- has been intensified across the country. Breaking reports claim that the two suspects after a car chase, fired shots and have taken a hostage. They are now reportedly holed up near the Charles de Gaulles airport.
In the shooting at the Charlie Hebdo office, 10 journalists and two police officers were gunned down by the killers, who reportedly claimed to be members of al-Qaeda's Yemen group.
For Muslims, any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad is a crime punishable by death and hence many Islamist terror groups such as the ISIS have extended their support to the gunmen.
On social media, several ISIS members and supporters have been using Arabic language hashtags including "our revenge for the messenger (Muhammad)", "Paris is Burning", "Paris under Fire" and the "Lions of Tawheed [monotheism]" to tweet on the Charlie Hebdo shooting incident.
One Twitter user, believed to be an ISIS supporter, said: "This is the first reaction. You'll not live in safety again." Another described the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo as a Zionist newspaper, reported The Guardian.
"This proves that the Islamic State can strike deep in Europe whenever it wishes," said another. A graphic photo posted by another ISIS member, Abu Sari al-Iraqi, showed the black flag of Islamic State flying over the Eiffel Tower, with the slogan in French: "We are everywhere."
An ISIS fighter, who goes by the name of Abu Mussab said: "The lions of Islam have avenged our Prophet. Let these crusaders be scared because they should be."
