German Newspaper That Reprinted Charlie Hebdo Cartoons Hit With Arson Attack

A German newspaper which reprinted controversial cartoons by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo suffered an arson attack against its offices in the early hours of Sunday, according to reports.

Unknown assailants threw incendiary devices into the offices of Hamburger Morgenpost at around 2 a.m. Sunday, the paper reported. Some files were destroyed, but no-one was injured in the attack, it added.

The paper had republished controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that first appeared in Charlie Hebdo on its front page this week, following the terrorist attacks on the magazine's Paris offices that left 12 people dead.

The paper reprinted the cartoons under the headline “This much freedom must be possible,” according to Deutsche Welle.

It is unknown at this time as to whether the arson attack was related to the cartoons' publication in the paper, but German police have reportedly detained two people in connection with the fire.

"Rocks and then a burning object were thrown through the window. Two rooms on lower floors were damaged but the fire was put out quickly," a police spokesperson told the AFP.

The attack comes as al-Qaeda warned of further attacks in Europe, following the three days of terror that rocked France this week. U.S. intelligence also warned that the attacks in France could be the first wave of a spate of terror attacks in the region, German newspaper Bild reported Sunday.