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Minute’s silence observed in France, across Europe for Paris victims

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France and other countries in Europe observed a minute's silence at noon (1100 GMT) Monday in memory of the victims of the worst-ever terror attacks on French soil.

In Paris, President Francois Hollande and his cabinet, all dressed in black, bowed their heads at the Sorbonne University, surrounded by scores of students.

And at Place de la Republique near the site of many of Friday's attacks, hundreds more stood still to remember the 129 people who were killed in the bloodbath.

French President Francois Hollande (centre) observes a minute of silence in the courtyard of the Sor...
French President Francois Hollande (centre) observes a minute of silence in the courtyard of the Sorbonne University in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Guillaume Horcajuelo, Pool/AFP

Large crowds also gathered in silence by the Bataclan music venue where 89 people were died, and outside a nearby bar and restaurant where 15 people were slain, AFP correspondents said.

At the G20 summit in Turkey, the seven EU leaders present -- David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Matteo Renzi, Mariano Rajoy, Laurent Fabius, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker -- observed the minute of silence in front of the main entrance.

The EU and French flags were both decorated with a black ribbon, while around 100 journalists took part in the tribute in the press centre at the European Commission building in Brussels.

A woman lays flowers during a minute's silence in Lille  tribute to the victims of the Paris at...
A woman lays flowers during a minute's silence in Lille, tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, on November 16, 2015
Philippe Huguen, AFP

In Britain, the Houses of Parliament rang the division bell on the stroke of 11:00 am (1100 GMT) as members fell silent and Union Jack flags on all government buildings flew at half-mast "as a mark of respect and expression of solidarity".

The England football team, due to play France in a friendly match on Tuesday, broke off training in Enfield, north of London, to pay tribute.

- Bells fall silent -

In front of London's majestic St Paul's Cathedral, tourists and passers-by stopped in their tracks to honour the dead as hundreds more paid their respects in Trafalgar Square.

Some carried makeshift posters reading 'je suis Paris' and 'Stand up against Terrorism in the world', while a lady serenaded the crowd with Edith Piaf songs.

Crowds gather to observe a minute's silence for the terror attacks outside the 'La Casa No...
Crowds gather to observe a minute's silence for the terror attacks outside the 'La Casa Nostra' restaurant in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Lionel Bonaventure, AFP

Shoppers in Britain's main cities collected in public squares to reflect on Friday's events while offices and shops across the country fell silent.

Shortly after observing the tribute, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said the alliance stood "in strong solidarity with the government and the people of France in their unwavering determination to deal with the terrorist threat."

In Madrid, a hundred lawmakers paid tribute on the steps outside parliament as a nearby trumpeter played the Marseillaise.

People observe a minute's silence outside the French embassy in Berlin  on November 16  2015
People observe a minute's silence outside the French embassy in Berlin, on November 16, 2015
John MacDougall, AFP

In the nearby Atocha station, the scene of bombings that killed 191 people in March 2004, about fifty people gathered, while some 300 people marked the event in front of City Hall.

In Berlin, a crowd hundreds-strong collected outside the French embassy -- next to the Brandenburg Gate -- where thousands of bouquets have been left.

Hundreds also gathered in Amsterdam's historic Dam Square, while in The Hague, the Dutch flag flew at half-mast in front of parliament.

Young people paying their respects in Rome held hands and wept as a musician played "La Vie en Rose" on an accordion.

In Sweden, government officials observed the event and main squares in some cities fell silent.

Norway's parliament also observed the silence, while in Copenhagen, the bells of the City Hall did not chime at midday.

France and other countries in Europe observed a minute’s silence at noon (1100 GMT) Monday in memory of the victims of the worst-ever terror attacks on French soil.

In Paris, President Francois Hollande and his cabinet, all dressed in black, bowed their heads at the Sorbonne University, surrounded by scores of students.

And at Place de la Republique near the site of many of Friday’s attacks, hundreds more stood still to remember the 129 people who were killed in the bloodbath.

French President Francois Hollande (centre) observes a minute of silence in the courtyard of the Sor...

French President Francois Hollande (centre) observes a minute of silence in the courtyard of the Sorbonne University in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Guillaume Horcajuelo, Pool/AFP

Large crowds also gathered in silence by the Bataclan music venue where 89 people were died, and outside a nearby bar and restaurant where 15 people were slain, AFP correspondents said.

At the G20 summit in Turkey, the seven EU leaders present — David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Matteo Renzi, Mariano Rajoy, Laurent Fabius, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker — observed the minute of silence in front of the main entrance.

The EU and French flags were both decorated with a black ribbon, while around 100 journalists took part in the tribute in the press centre at the European Commission building in Brussels.

A woman lays flowers during a minute's silence in Lille  tribute to the victims of the Paris at...

A woman lays flowers during a minute's silence in Lille, tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, on November 16, 2015
Philippe Huguen, AFP

In Britain, the Houses of Parliament rang the division bell on the stroke of 11:00 am (1100 GMT) as members fell silent and Union Jack flags on all government buildings flew at half-mast “as a mark of respect and expression of solidarity”.

The England football team, due to play France in a friendly match on Tuesday, broke off training in Enfield, north of London, to pay tribute.

– Bells fall silent –

In front of London’s majestic St Paul’s Cathedral, tourists and passers-by stopped in their tracks to honour the dead as hundreds more paid their respects in Trafalgar Square.

Some carried makeshift posters reading ‘je suis Paris’ and ‘Stand up against Terrorism in the world’, while a lady serenaded the crowd with Edith Piaf songs.

Crowds gather to observe a minute's silence for the terror attacks outside the 'La Casa No...

Crowds gather to observe a minute's silence for the terror attacks outside the 'La Casa Nostra' restaurant in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Lionel Bonaventure, AFP

Shoppers in Britain’s main cities collected in public squares to reflect on Friday’s events while offices and shops across the country fell silent.

Shortly after observing the tribute, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said the alliance stood “in strong solidarity with the government and the people of France in their unwavering determination to deal with the terrorist threat.”

In Madrid, a hundred lawmakers paid tribute on the steps outside parliament as a nearby trumpeter played the Marseillaise.

People observe a minute's silence outside the French embassy in Berlin  on November 16  2015

People observe a minute's silence outside the French embassy in Berlin, on November 16, 2015
John MacDougall, AFP

In the nearby Atocha station, the scene of bombings that killed 191 people in March 2004, about fifty people gathered, while some 300 people marked the event in front of City Hall.

In Berlin, a crowd hundreds-strong collected outside the French embassy — next to the Brandenburg Gate — where thousands of bouquets have been left.

Hundreds also gathered in Amsterdam’s historic Dam Square, while in The Hague, the Dutch flag flew at half-mast in front of parliament.

Young people paying their respects in Rome held hands and wept as a musician played “La Vie en Rose” on an accordion.

In Sweden, government officials observed the event and main squares in some cities fell silent.

Norway’s parliament also observed the silence, while in Copenhagen, the bells of the City Hall did not chime at midday.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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