Rome, Jan 7 (IANS): Italian authorities Wednesday strongly condemned the shooting at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris, in which at least 12 people werexkilled.

"Horror and dismay for the massacre of Paris," were the first words of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi posted on a social network, Xinhua reported.

Renzi said Italy "totally stands with (French President) Francois Hollande and (Paris Mayor) Anne Hidalgo at this terrible time".

"Violence will always lose against freedom and democracy," he added.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni called the shooting an "infamous attack".

"Italy stands with the families of the victims and to the French people and government in the fight against terrorism," Gentiloni said in his words posted on a social network.

At least 12 people were killed in the shooting at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo Wednesday morning, according to media reports. A few others were in critical condition.

Charlie Hebdo, based in Paris's 11th arrondissement, was firebombed in 2011, after it published a controversial series of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.