Étiquettes
- Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are among 40 world leaders taking part
- Giant letters attached to statue in Place de la République spell ‘Pourquoi?’ as small groups sing national anthem
- 2,000 police officers and 1,400 soldiers deployed in Paris as officer describes atmosphere as ‘extremely tense’
More than one million people gathered in Paris today to stage a defiant march alongside world leaders in a moving tribute to the 17 terror victims.
Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande were among around 40 world leaders taking part in the solidarity march.
Giant letters attached to a statue in the Place de la République spelt out the word ‘Pourquoi?’ (‘Why?’) and small groups sang the national anthem.
Other noted world leaders in the city included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.
Among members of the public at the march was Isabelle Gabarre, who had travelled from their home in Rouen, Normandy, with her daughter Mathilde.
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Thousands of people began filled France’s Place de la République as world leaders converged on Paris in a rally of defiance and sorrow today
Waving their flags: Scenes from Place de la République today as people from around the world converge on the French capital
Starting at 3pm local time: People begin to gather at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration
Packed Free public transport was arranged to allow hundreds of thousands of mourners to flood into the city to join the march
Joining together: British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) met French President Francois Hollande (right) today at the Elysee Palace, Paris
French President Francois Hollande welcomes Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrives at the Elysee Palace before the march
She told MailOnline: ‘We are here to support freedom. We cannot be beaten. It is an important word, not only here in France, but around the world.
‘We are proud of all the people here today. We want to show the world we are united and we are not scared.’
Free public transport was arranged to allow hundreds of thousands of mourners to flood into the city to join the march.
In the early morning, hundreds of heavily armed policeman stood guard on the city streets as a tense atmosphere prevailed.
Mourners carried signs reading ‘Je Suis Charlie’ in support of those killed by the Kourachi brothers in the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Wednesday.
Decent view: People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at the Place de la République
Holding hands: Family members and relatives of the 17 victims take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris
People holding signs that read ‘Je Suis Charlie’ (I am Charlie), and ‘I am Jewish’ gather along an avenue leading to the Place de la Nation
The city’s Jewish community was to be represented by rabbis and leaders, paying tribute to the four people murdered by Amedy Coulibaly in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris, on Friday.
Security services across the world have reportedly received intelligence that more terror attacks are ‘highly likely’, as a ring of steel was placed around the French capital for today’s march.
There are fears that Al Qaeda and Islamic State-linked terror cells will be activated as the city prepares to host the rally this afternoon.
By mid-morning, approximately 2,000 police officers and 1,400 soldiers were deployed across Paris in an atmosphere described by one officer on the scene as ‘extremely tense’.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said ‘exceptional measures’ were being taken to try and prevent further attacks, including deploying snipers on roofs.
Home Secretary Theresa May is among those scheduled to meet Mr Cazeneuve before the march to discuss the threat posed by Islamic militants.
President Hollande will also meet leaders from Paris’s Jewish community, who are still in shock following the atrocity at the kosher grocery store.
The march will take place along two routes and between two major squares, Place de la Republique and Place de la Nation, with snipers on every rooftop.
‘Exceptional measures are being taken to ensure security and public safety,’ said a spokesman for Paris city hall, who said some 5,500 members of the security forces would be on the streets in total.
He said entire streets would be kept empty to ensure ‘evacuation’ in case of any problems, and to allow ‘the free movement of police and emergency vehicles’.
Involved: Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left), head of the conservative party UMP, and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (right)
Presence: Armed French military on the streets at Place de la Nation in Paris, the end point of the rally route today
Je suis Charlie: People lay flowers and candles at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris today after it was attacked by armed men
Tributes: A man places a flower at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration this morning
Poignant: The phrase ‘Je suis Charlie’ (‘I am Charlie’) is spelt out in candles, surrounded by pens and pencils
Paris remembers: Another man at Place de la République before the demonstration, in which one million people are expected to take part
Sewers and other ‘hidden spaces’ were also being searched before the rally, which started at 3pm local time (2pm GMT).
Beyond the police marksmen, 150 plainclothes officers will be there to protect VIPs, who will also be assigned 56 specialist police teams trained in diplomatic protection.
Leaders such as Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu will also have their own security teams in place.
Vigipirate, France’s national security alert system, remains at its highest level, as buildings including synagogues and mosques are given particularly protection.
Sydney Beuvry, 20, from Paris, said: ‘I am an artist myself, so freedom of expression is very important to me.
‘I am pleased to see so many people here today in support of all the victims. The people of Paris stand together against terrorism.’
There was a celebratory atmosphere in the city, as the people put on a show of defiance.
Grettings: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (left) welcomes Britain’s Interior Minister Theresa May before the start of an international meeting aimed at fighting terrorism in Paris today
Talks: Interior ministers gather this morning at an international meeting aimed at fighting terrorism in Paris
Discussions: Mr Hollande (right) walks with Joel Mergui (centre), president of the French Jewish Consistory, after a meeting with Jewish organizations in France, at the Elysee Palace in Paris today
Je Pense Donc Je Suis Charlie: This banner held aloft in Paris today says ‘I think therefore I am Charlie’
Yesterday: Thousands of people attend a demonstration in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in and around Paris linked to Wednesday’s attack on Charlie Hebdo at the Old-Port of Marseille yesterday
Elsewhere: Several thousand people walk behind a banner reading ‘Live Together Free, Equal, and United’ as they march to pay tribute to the victims following the shooting, during a demonstration in Nantes yesterday
A group of youths scaled the monument in Place de la Republique and led the crowd in a passionate chants of ‘Charlie! Liberte!’ and ‘Vive la France!’ in support of freedom as the thousands gathered applauded.
Many countries of the world were represented in the crowd, with flags from Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Senegal, Cameroon and Cuba all present.
Vanessa Almedia, 33, said: ‘I’m from Brazil, but have lived here for five years. This was not just an attack on France, this was an attack on the world and on freedom.’
The crowd held a spontaneous moment of silence in honour of the victims, before again breaking into applause and chants of ‘Long live France!’
Anna Demontis, 25, had ‘Je suis Charlie’ painted on her face and said: ‘I am so pleased to see so many people here today. It makes me proud.
‘This is a sign of hope and it shows that the world will not be defeated by terrorism.’
Groupe Gaulliste Sceaux 