- An estimated 3.7million gathered in shows of solidarity across France today in tribute to those killed by terrorists
- Unprecedented crowds were seen in Paris where millions walked the capital's streets chanting 'Je suis Charlie'
- British Prime Minister David Cameron linked arms with other world leaders to lead the proceedings this afternoon
- President Francois Hollande began the march, poignantly telling crowds: 'Today, Paris is the capital of the world'
- Elsewhere crowds gathered in major world cities, with famous monuments illuminated in the Tricolor
More
than three million people gathered across France today to stage defiant
marches in a moving tribute to the 17 people killed in terror attacks
across the country last week.
With
the majority flocking to the capital where cartoonists and passers-by
were murdered by Islamic fanatics last week, British Prime Minister
David Cameron joined crowds marching in their memory.
Arm
in arm with President Francois Hollande and a host of other world
leaders, he was among an estimated two million people marching through
the city.
Elsewhere,
US Attorney General Eric Holder joined officials, including Home
Secretary Theresa Mary, at the Interior Ministry where talks were held
about threats posed by Islamist extremism.
Standing
in a front-row of world leaders near Place de la Republique shortly
before 3pm, President Hollande told crowds: 'Today, Paris is the capital
of the world.'
An estimated 3.7million people marched
across France today, the majority gathering in Paris (above) to pay
tribute to those killed by terrorists in a swathe of attacks across the
capital last week
As night fell in the French capital,
tens of thousands of people continued marching in 'unprecedented'
numbers. Today saw more people flock to the city's streets than ever
before in its history
Thousands remained in Place de la
Nation this evening after some five hours of marching in the wake of the
Charlie Hebdo and supermarket massacres
Local newspapers reported the crowds
as being as large as two million people, with an 'unprecedented' number
of people turning out in the French capital
Protesters wave pencils and flags at
Place de la Nation as the rally continued past dusk, with chants of
'Charlie' and the national anthem ringing loudly
Youths release green flares from the
monument in Place de la Nation tonight as crowds remain in the city's
streets after hours of marching
Jubilance in the Place de la Nation where giant pencils on sticks and flags were waved after a lengthy march through the city
Journalists and protesters wave
banners and signs in support of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine
which came under siege last week when terrorists stormed its office
Francois Hollande joined mourners at
Paris Grand Synagogue for an evening memorial service held for those
killed at a kosher supermarket
Solidarity: Protesters hold up signs
spelling out the word as crowds disperse in Paris this evening after
hours of peaceful protest
French President Francois Hollande is
surrounded by leaders including Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron
(left), Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (fourth right),
Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (third right) and Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel (right)
United: European Commission President
President Jean-Claude Juncker, Mr Netanyahu, former French president
Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Keita, Mrs Merkel, Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they attend the march
Arm in arm, world leaders, left to
right: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Spanish Prime Minister
Mariano Rajoy, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime
Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, European Union foreign policy chief
Federica Mogherini, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President
Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union
President Donald Tusk, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Jordan's
Queen Rania, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Matteo
Renzi, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Ukrainian President Petro
Poroshenko and other guests
Record crowds were seen in Paris today as an estimated two million people took to the streets in protest against the massacres
As dusk fell in the French capital tens of thousands of people remained in the streets some five hours after they began
Crowds march behind a giant black and
white banner reading 'Nous sommes Charlie' (We are Charlie) as night
falls on Boulevard Voltaire
Local
media reports suggested as many as three million people had turned out
to march in defiance of the threats issued by Muslim fanatics
responsible for the attacks at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical
magazine, and in a kosher supermarket last week.
Among them was Isabelle Gabarre, who had travelled from her home in Rouen, Normandy, with her daughter Mathilde.
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.'
And Anne-Claire
Davy, who lives on the Avenue de la Republique where the march passed
through, said she was delighted by the march.
She
said: 'This is a show of defiance by Paris, by France and by the world.
This is exactly the response I expected. I am very proud of my city
today.'
It was very moving - extraordinary circumstances to be doing it, and an extraordinary set of people to be doing it with
David Cameron, British Prime Minister
Free public transport was arranged to allow hundreds of thousands of mourners to flood into the city to join the march.
Among
world leaders taking part in the rally was British Prime Minister David
Cameron who described the event as 'extraordinary'.
After
taking part in the Paris rally, Mr Cameron told Sky News: ‘It was very
moving - extraordinary circumstances to be doing it, and an
extraordinary set of people to be doing it with.
‘The
memory I will have is people leaning out of their windows of all ages
with tricolours - the French flag - incredibly proud of their country,
proud of their democracy, proud of freedom of speech, and these great
signs saying `I am Charlie. I am a police officer. I am a Jew'.
‘People
of all ages wanting to show real solidarity. I think we should
recognise the values that we have in European countries of believing in
democracy and free speech, freedom of expression, the right to offend
people and be offended.
‘These are not sources of weakness against this terrorist threat, they are sources of strength.
'They are what make us great economies, great countries, great societies and it was great to see that in action today.’
A tribute of candles and flowers left
to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack and those killed in a kosher
supermarket in Paris
A group of youths scale the monument
in Place de la Nation to chant 'Vive la France!' and 'Charlie' as
rallies continue into the night
Two young women hold candles and flags in the French capital tonight as the peaceful protests continued across Paris
Muslim women light candles at a memorial for those killed by Islamic extremists in Paris this evening after a day of marching
Crowds
gather one half of a giant inflatable pencil with protestations of
freedom scribbled on its side as part of the march in Paris
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
World leaders and dignitaries,
including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (left) and Mr Cameron
(right), attend the mass unity rally
Emotional: French President Francois
Hollande (left) comforts French columnist Patrick Pelloux (right) from
satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo
Decent view: People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at the Place de la République
An armed
policeman on a rooftop in Place de la Nation (left), during a rally in
central Paris (right) following the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks
Huge number of people: Demonstrators
make their way along Boulevard Voltaire in a unity rally in Paris
following the recent terrorist attacks
French President Francois Hollande
(centre) welcomes the Interior Ministers Jorge Fernandez Diaz of Spain
(second left), Bernard Cazeneuve of France (third left), US Attorney
General Eric Holder (fourth left), British Home Secretary Teresa May
(second right) and European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs
Dimitris Avramopoulos (right) at the Elysee Palace before they
participate in the march
A series of huge cards showing the glasses and eyes of Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier was also seen
Men carry a giant figure of Marianne,
the French symbol of liberty, as others carry Tricolors and placards
with messages of hope overhead
Holding hands: Family members and
relatives of the 17 victims take part in a solidarity march (Marche
Republicaine) in the streets of Paris
Relatives of cartoonists killed in the
Charlie Hebdo offices last week wear white headbands sporting the
satirical magazine's name
A woman carries a Tricolor with 'Je
suis Charlie' written on its white centre column as millions marched
through the streets of Paris
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
Hug: Francois Hollande and David Cameron embrace ahead of the leaders' procession through Paris today
Demonstrators make their way along
Boulevard Voltaire in a unity rally in Paris following the recent
terrorist attacks in 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
US Justice Secretary Eric Holder
shakes hands with France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve following
the International meeting against terrorism at the Interior Ministry
this morning
The route of defiance: An estimated 2million marched through the streets of Paris today to gather in the Place de la Republique
As
night fell a celebratory atmosphere spread among the remaining crowds,
with youngsters scaling the monument in Place de la Republique to chant:
'Vive la France!'
Still
reeling from the shock of the slayings of innocent people across the
capital last week, some spoke of their pride at the nation's resilience
to threats against its freedom.
'When
the killings happened, we were in shock because this was an attack on
freedom - but today is a proud day for everyone in the city,' said Alina
Mihalcea, 31, from Place de la Nation.
'When we won the World Cup in 1998, everyone was united and that is what today is like.
'Whatever you believe, whatever colour you are, wherever you are from - we are all the same.
'We are all together in the same country and we should live together in the best way that we can.'
Anne-Claire
Davy, who lives on the Avenue de la Republique where the march passed
through, added: 'This is a show of defiance by Paris, by France and by
the world.
'This is exactly the response I expected. I am very proud of my city today.'
President Hollande later joined the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Tonight,
French President Francois Hollande and Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu attended a service in rememberance of the dead.
Prayers
for the victims were read out in a solemn service at the Grande
Synagogue de Paris, with leaders from the Muslim and Christian community
also present.
Haim
Korsia, Grand Rabbi of France, spoke to the congregation and delivered a
message of hope, saying it is vital that the city pursues a shared
future.
As police made their way through the crowds, marchers applauded them in recognition of their work during the last week.
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 Kouachi brothers in the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Wednesday.
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.
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.
French President Francois Hollande (right) welcomes King Abdullah II of Jordan (centre) and Queen Rania of Jordan
(left) at the Elysee Palace
French journalists holding up their press cards take part in a hundreds of thousands of French citizens solidarity march
In Place de la Nation, youths climb the Triumph of the Republic monument - erected to celebrate the city's freedom
In Place de
la Republique (left), protesters wave flags from all over the world,
the Tricolor the most prominent as elsewhere in the world
Involved: Ex-French president Nicolas
Sarkozy (left), head of the conservative party UMP, and his wife Carla
Bruni-Sarkozy (right)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Francois Hollande join mourners at a memorial service in
the Grand Synagogue held in memory of those killed by a gunman in a
kosher deli last week
Banner:Among members of the public at the march was Isabelle Gabarre, who had travelled from Normandy with her daughter Mathilde
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
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.
We are here to support freedom. We cannot be beaten. It is an important word, not only here in France, but around the world
Isabelle Gabarre, march participant
‘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’.
Sewers
and other ‘hidden spaces’ were also being searched before the rally,
which had been due to start at 3pm local time (2pm GMT).
The march eventually started 25 minutes late, at 3.25pm, with Mr Hollande standing alongside Mrs Merkel.
But there were no complaints from the crowd, who had put up with extremely cold January temperatures as they waited patiently.
‘We don’t mind if we stand still the whole time,’ said Luc Dufour, a 26-year-old who had travelled from Lyon for the march.
‘Thousands of us knew we had to be here, simply show how much we object to people killing each other.’
Flying the flag: Sydney Beuvry, 20, from Paris, said: 'I am an artist myself, so freedom of expression is very important to me'
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'
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.
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.'
From Madrid to London, and Pisa to Ankara: 'Je suis Charlie' demonstrations around the world
Holding
pens and placards aloft with black tape across their mouths, thousands
gathered around the world in solidarity today to voice their right to
free speech.
Cities
paying their respects to those killed in Paris included Berlin, Madrid,
Jerusalem, Strasbourg, Ankara, Brussels, Glasgow and Pisa as London's
landmarks were lit in the blue, white and red of the tricolore.
In
London's Trafalgar Square, where Nelson's Column once commemorated
Anglo-French hostility, France's flag was projected onto the walls of
the National Gallery as hundreds sang the country's national anthem.
Also
lit were the London Eye and County Hall on the south bank of the
Thames, while Tower Bridge was lit alternately in the colours of the
French flag.
London
mayor Boris Johnson joined the the crowds in Trafalgar Square, telling
them: 'Those people who were responsible for the attack at Charlie Hebdo
and in the kosher supermarket had one objective only.
'That was to divide our societies and communities from one another, to foster mistrust and hatred and suspicion.
LONDON: The National Gallery in
Trafalgar Square is lit up with the Tricolor as thousands descend on the
square in protest against the Paris terror attacks
LONDON: A ring of pens and pencils
surround notes of peace and solidarity in Trafalgar Square this evening
as crowd goers light candles
LONDON: The fountain in Trafalgar Square runs red in memory of those killed by terrorists in the French capital last week
A projection of the Tricolor in
Trafalgar Square tonight after hundreds gathered in a show of solidarity
for those marching in France
'The
worst possible thing would be to allow them to succeed and that's why
it's so important that so many voices from all communities and across
all religions have all joined together to denounce what has happened in
Paris.'
Also
joining the crowds was deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, just hours
after he was slammed by a former security minister for 'blocking' an
anti-terror bill.
Labour
peer Lord West told the BBC's Andrew Marr show the government’s
Communications Data Bill, dubbed a ‘snoopers’ charter’ by opponents, was
needed to track terrorist suspects.
The bill allows the security services to monitor who people are emailing and what they are looking at online.
‘I
think that needs to go through,' he said. 'I was very irked that it was
removed, in fact it was removed by the Deputy Prime Minister, when it
had all been agreed across all parties.’
Joining
the politicians were hundreds of members of the public holding signs
saying 'Je Suis Charlie'. Some held pens in the air as a symbolic
gesture to those killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Musician
Shantanu Adib, 29, originally from Bangladesh, said he was raised a
Muslim and the extremists scare the 's***' out of him.
He
stood in the square with a cartoon he had drawn with '#Je Suis Charlie'
written underneath, which he said was a picture of an extremist but
with a penis for a nose.
LONDON: A demonstrator holds a pen in
symbolic support of the Paris victims in a solidarity gathering at
London's Trafalgar Square today
LONDON: Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam join crowds in Trafalgar Square this afternoon as protesters gathered across the world
Earlier today the Deputy Prime
Minister was accused of having a hand in enabling the movements of
terrorists by blocking a Parliament bill
LONDON: Mayor of London Boris Johnson
joined crowds in Trafalgar Square this afternoon where the National
Gallery was illuminated with the Tricolor
LONDON: This young girl was among
thousands of people gathering in Trafalgar Square in a show of
solidarity with the march in France
LONDON: A woman in a beret proudly holds up a tricolor in Trafalgar Square as part of the unity rally
ROME: Lazio's football players sport Je Suis Charlie motifs on their shirts in a match against AS Roma in Italy this afternoon
LONDON: The same phrase is etched on
to a piece of paper and placed in front of an Arsenal flag at the
Emirates Stadium in north London
MANCHESTER: Fans hold pieces of paper
covered in plastic pockets at Old Trafford today during a match between
Manchester United and Southampton
The
man, who now lives in London, said he had put the picture on Facebook
and has since received death threats from the Bangladeshi and Pakistani
community.
He
said: 'I am here to express our right to draw whatever we want and to
also show solidarity. What happened, it was a planned attack. These guys
are obviously well-trained and are practising hard-core Islam.
'I
know they are in the minority, and there are a lot of good Muslims, but
there are still a lot of these extremists that only want Sharia law
where ever they go. To be honest with you, they scare the s**t out of
me.
'I put my picture on Facebook earlier and I'm getting death threats already from the Pakistani and Bangladeshi community.'
A
44-year-old man, who asked only to be called Jason, said there was
disgust and anger about the attacks but he said they have created a
movement of 'love.'
He attended Trafalgar Square with a 'Je Suis Charlie' poster attached to his hat.
The
man, who moved to London from Aix in the south of France in 1982, said:
'Something much bigger is happening, we are all coming together as one
and showing love and togetherness and I think this is gathering
momentum.
'I
think the perpetrators who did this have brought shame on themselves. I
was disgusted and angry, but I think this togetherness that is coming
out of it is beautiful. There is a movement of love happening.'
A 24-year-old Parisian financial analyst, who lives in east London, said the events that evolved in France were shocking.
'I'm
here working in London for eight months but I lived in Paris my whole
life,' said the man. 'It was important to come here today to show we are
all united and to make a stand for freedom of speech, liberty and
democracy.
'I
think it is very worrying that the perpetrators are French and there
are lot of French people going off to fight Jihad abroad.
'Most of all, I think it was shocking the way the attacks were carried out - assassinations.
'My
mother also lives near to where the second hostage taking happened, so
it was a very scary, anxious time for me. But we have to show that we
are not afraid.'
Marine Le Pen, France's Front National
Party president took part in a different rally today in Beaucaire after
claiming to have been excluded from the main event in Paris
The far-right party instead staged
their own rally in the southern town. Earlier this week, Le Pen said the
country should re-instate the death penalty in the wake of terrorist
attacks
Le Pen's resurgent Front National is
expected to draw in more votes in wake of last week's terrorist attacks.
At a rally held in the southern town of Beaucaire today, the
politician's father told crowds: 'Je ne suis pas Charlie' in reference
to the satirical newspaper which frequently mocked his politics in the
past
MARSEILLE: An estimated 6,000 people
gathered in Marseille's old harbour today. Around 2million people are
thought to have turned out across France today
BERLIN: A woman taped her mouth with the word 'Freedom' in front of the Brandenburg Gate near the French embassy in Berlin
MADRID: People hold placards reading
in French 'I am Charlie' behind a French flag during a public show of
solidarity on Plaza del Sol
JERUSALEM: People hold signs while attending a ceremony honouring the victims of the shootings in France this week in Jerusalem
THESSALONIKI: People hold 'Je Suis Charlie' placards, pencils and pens in front of The White tower today in Thessaloniki
STRASBOURG: People hold a banner
reading 'Nous sommes tous Charlie' (We are all Charlie) during a unity
rally in Strasbourg, eastern France
IVORY COAST: A girl holds a piece of
paper with the phrase 'I am Charlie' outside the French embassy in
Abidjan where paper flowers were left
ANKARA: Thousands of people held a
protest in the Turkish city for the people killed in the terror attack
on the Charlie Hebdo offices
BRUSSELS: A march against hate and for freedom of speech and tolerance, in Brussels, from North station to South station
GLASGOW: The French community in Glasgow come together to show solidarity with the rest of their country following the shootings
PISA: A woman holds a pencil and a poster reading in French 'I am Charlie', in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2905307/One-million-people-prepare-march-Paris-terror-attacks.html#ixzz3Od1gfvtT
MORE: Photos
In Paris: A Massive Rally of Defiance and Sorrow
People place pencils on the ground in the War reporters'
Memorial during a Unity rally Marche Republicaine on January 11 in
Bayeux, northwestern France, in tribute to the 17 victims of the
three-day killing spree.
# Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Hundreds of thousands of people gather at Republique square in Paris on Sunday, January 11.
# Peter Dejong/AP 
Hundreds of thousands of French citizens take part in a solidarity march
(Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris on January 11. French
citizens were joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and
Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute
to this week's victims following the shootings by gunmen at the offices
of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a
police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher
supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes.
#
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