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Monday, 12 January 2015

'We are here to support freedom. We will not be beaten': 3.7MILLION people march across France as world leaders are joined in Paris for moving tribute to 17 terror victims

  • 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 3.3million 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
By Laurie Hanna and Emily Davies and Peter Allen In Paris for MailOnline

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 3.3million 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 Holland told crowds: 'Today, Paris is the capital of the world.'

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.'

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.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2905307/One-million-people-prepare-march-Paris-terror-attacks.html

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