Paris Million March!!!!!!!!!

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'We are here to support freedom. We will not be beaten': Paris sees ONE MILLION people stage defiant march alongside world leaders including David Cameron in moving tribute to 17 terror victims

• 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'

By LAURIE HANNA and EMILY DAVIES and PETER ALLEN FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:37 GMT, 11 January 2015 | UPDATED: 15:40 GMT, 11 January 2015



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.


British Prime Minister David Cameron, US Attorney General Eric Holder and French President Francois Hollande were among the leaders taking part.

The politicians stood arm in arm to lead the march, which was preceded by a declaration from Mr Hollande that 'today, Paris is the capital of the world'.


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.



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Front line: Mr Hollande is surrounded by head of states including (first row, from left) European Commission President European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they attend the solidarity march

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March: Front row from left, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Mr Juncker, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Keita, Mr Hollande, Mrs Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Mr Abbas and Mr Renzi, and other dignitaries, heads of government and heads of state

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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

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Waving their flags: Scenes from Place de la République today as people from around the world converge on the French capital

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Starting at 3pm local time: People begin to gather at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration

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Packed Free public transport was arranged to allow hundreds of thousands of mourners to flood into the city to join the march

One million people prepare to march through Paris after terror attacks | Daily Mail Online

 

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Joining together: British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) met French President Francois Hollande (right) today at the Elysee Palace, Paris

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French President Francois Hollande welcomes Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrives at the Elysee Palace before the march

Among members of the public at the march was Isabelle Gabarre, who had travelled from their 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.'

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.




Parisians prepare for march to show solidarity after attacks

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Decent view: People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at the Place de la République

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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

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A series of huge cards showing the glasses and eyes of Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier was also seen

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Holding hands: Family members and relatives of the 17 victims take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris

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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




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French President Francois Hollande (right) welcomes King Abdullah II of Jordan (centre) and Queen Rania of Jordan (left) at the Elysee Palace

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.


EXPLOSION NEAR JEWISH GROCERY
A controlled explosion has taken place close to the Jewish grocery where hostages were held on Friday as police anticipate the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Crowds at the scene of the tributes on Avenue Galliéni were pushed back by police and asked to shield their ears before a short bang.

It is thought a suspicious package was found in a vehicle in a side street 100 yards from the Hyper Cacher shop, which remains cordoned off following the rescue operation.

It is believed the explosion was made as a precautionary measure ahead of Mr Netanyahu's arrival to pay tribute to those who were killed by Amedy Coulibaly in the siege.


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’.

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Involved: Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left), head of the conservative party UMP, and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (right)

 

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Presence: Armed French military on the streets at Place de la Nation in Paris, the end point of the rally route today

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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

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Tributes: A man places a flower at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration this morning

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Poignant: The phrase 'Je suis Charlie' ('I am Charlie') is spelt out in candles, surrounded by pens and pencils

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Paris remembers: Another man at Place de la République before the demonstration, in which one million people are expected to take part





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

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.

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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

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Talks: Interior ministers gather this morning at an international meeting aimed at fighting terrorism in Paris

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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

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Je Pense Donc Je Suis Charlie: This banner held aloft in Paris today says 'I think therefore I am Charlie'

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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

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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.

Exceptional measures are being taken to ensure security and public safety
Paris city hall spokesman

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.'


DOZENS OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT SET TO JOIN MARCH
Today's historic mass rally in Paris is expected to draw more than a million people and a long list of world leaders in tribute to 17 people killed in three days of Islamist attacks.

It will include dozens of heads of state and government, along with French political leaders from both the left and right. Here is a list of world political figures who have confirmed their attendance:


EUROPE

French President Francois Hollande

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

British Prime Minister David Cameron

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

European Parliament President Martin Schulz

European Union President Donald Tusk

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico

Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boïko Borissov

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven



Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibachvili

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz

NORTH AMERICA

US Attorney General Eric Holder

Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney

MIDDLE EAST

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Jordanian King Abdullah II and Queen Rania

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan

Qatari Sheikh Mohamed Ben Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani

Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled ben Ahmed Al Khalifa and Prince Abdullah Ben Hamad al-Khalifa

AFRICA

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

Gabonese President Ali Bongo

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou

Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi

Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra

 

[mujhaidind]

Keep provoking Muslims. Then don't play the victim card.

 

[RescueRanger]

Expressions tell you a lot about a person, DC has the look of a frightened charlatan. Whilst the French President is sombre and expressionless, the eyes gazing into the distance... "The Thousand yard stare", if anyone has served and faced that difficult choice, will recognise this look all too well.

This is the face that says more than anything. This one image is more important that all the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a public place in a show of solidarity.

There is a saying in Saraiki which I will translate: The pain of stone striking your home it hardest to bare.

 

[Indian Patriot]

I wish there was an Asian delegate.

 

[coffee_cup]

Good show of solidarity.

Now France must end its support for Al-Qaeda related terrorists fighting in Syria against Bashar before these start coming back home.

It is high time that everyone realises, that there are no good or bad terrorists. These are just terrorists... eliminate them everywhere!

 

[Indian Patriot]

Expressions tell you a lot about a person, DC has the look of a frightened charlatan. Whilst the French President is sombre and expressionless, the eyes gazing into the distance... "The Thousand yard stare", if anyone has served and faced that difficult choice, will recognise this look all too well.

This is the face that says more than anything. This one image is more important that all the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a public place in a show of solidarity.

There is a saying in Saraiki which I will translate: The pain of stone striking your home it hardest to bare.

DC looks more like he is super pissed off.

 

[Echo_419]

Keep provoking Muslims. Then don't play the victim card.

Reported for your avatar

 

[RescueRanger]

DC looks more like he is super pissed off.

No, DC is a charlatan and void of all courage. The only real leader the British Produced was Thatcher, a true leader post WWII

 

[Indian Patriot]

No, DC is a charlatan and void of all courage. The only real leader the British Produced was Thatcher, a true leader post WWII

thatcher was a crook. TB was a sly fox. He looks like a pushover but he is very cunning.

 

[ito]

This could be watershed event in Europe.

 

[Indian Patriot]

This could be watershed event in Europe.

nothing will happen.

 

[RescueRanger]

thatcher was a crook. TB was a sly fox. He looks like a pushover but he is very cunning.

Thatcher was a crook? Care to explain? Thatcher did what no other tory member could do, give Argentina a right royal thrashing and look good doing it. TB, I will grant you was the most diplomatic of them all, at least in recent years, they didn't call him "Teflon Tony" for no reason...

 

[ito]

nothing will happen.

It will. Remember how 9/11 forever changed the world. This event may not have the same effect, but I am sure the west is not gong to sit and watch now.