Yemen’s top al-Qaida leader has claimed responsibility for attacking satirical Paris magazine Charlie Hebdo in a video message sent to a French newspaper.

“As for the blessed Battle of Paris, we, the Organisation of al Qaeda al Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula, claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the Messenger of God,” said Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, a leader of the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda (AQAP) in the recording.

The message comes nearly a week after two Islamic extremists stormed into the magazine’s office killing 12 people including its editor allegedly for publishing a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad.