Obama signs a condolences book at the French Embassy in Washington
Obama signs a condolences book at the French Embassy in WashingtonReuters

President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to the French Embassy in Washington on Thursday, to pay his respects and express solidarity with the French people after a deadly attack on a satirical newspaper in Paris.

Reuters reported that shortly after returning from a trip to Phoenix, Obama rode in his motorcade to the embassy to sign a condolences book. He was joined there by the French ambassador, Gerard Araud.

Obama wrote in the book that he extended sympathy and solidarity to the French people following Wednesday's attack at the Charlie Hebdo weekly, in which 12 people were killed.

"As allies across the centuries, we stand united with our French brothers to ensure that justice is done and our way of life is defended. We go forward together knowing that terror is no match for freedom and ideals we stand for - ideals that light the world," he wrote, according to Reuters.

On Air Force One earlier, Obama got an update via conference call from his national security advisers on the Paris shootings. He also heard about security issues facing Americans in the United States and around the world, the White House said.

On Wednesday, several hours after the attack, Obama released a statement in which he condemned the murderous massacre.

"I strongly condemn the horrific shooting of the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people," he wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrorist attack and with the people of France at this time."

Also on Thursday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a letter of condolences to French President Francois Hollande, in which he wrote that “this attack on France is an attack on all of us.”

“The people of Israel stand with the people of France at this difficult time. Please convey our sympathies to the families of the victims and our best wishes for the full and speedy recovery of the injured,” Netanyahu wrote the French president.

Police in France continue to look for the two brothers who are suspected of having carried out the attack. One of the two recently spent time in Yemen associating with Al-Qaeda in that country, according to officials who spoke to CNN on Thursday.

Police already have their third prime suspect, named as 18-year-old Hamyd Mourad, in their custody, after he voluntarily handed himself over to authorities on Wednesday night.