French Muslims are braced for a backlash after terrorists shouting Islamist slogans killed 12 people Wednesday in Paris.

Community leaders are urging Muslims to stay vigilant and calm as fears of reprisals grow following the massacre at the offices of a satirical magazine. The leaders asked their community to avoid provoking other French people and join protests against the attack. They recommended that veiled women avoid going out alone.

"Panic is spreading," said Henniche M'hammed, spokesman for UAM 93, an Islamic community group based in Seine-Saint-Denis, a working-class Paris suburb. "More and more Muslim people are asking themselves, 'What's next?'"