“This attack is being claimed by the group calling themselves “Islamic State”, said Muslim Council of Britain’s Secretary General Shuja Shafi. Mayor Bill de Blasio came by the park and joined the rally, leaving a bunch of white roses at a memorial under the arch. “Vive la France!” he said, as the crowd cheered softly, before he launched into the “La Marseillaise”, the French national anthem, along with them, again, rather softly.
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Braving the afternoon rain, around 150 people displayed flags and home-made placards reading “Nous sommes Paris” (We are Paris) and “London stands with Paris”.
Stating that he arrived at Trafalgar Square to show that he stands with Paris, Frederic Fournier stated that they do not afraid of terrorism and “We are honored as being a European”.
Several famous landmarks across the capital were also illuminated, including the London Eye, Tower Bridge and Wembley Stadium.
‘The attacks once again in Paris are horrific and abhorrent, and we condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms’.
But organisers cancelled a firework display due to take place as part of the celebrations out of respect to the victims. It was just a sense that this kind of thing isn’t really a surprise anymore. It just happens over and over and over, ‘ said Jonathan, 24, who cycles pass the embassy on his commute to work. “We don’t want to live in war”.
Officials said 129 people were killed and 352 wounded in the coordinated attacks in Paris Friday night.
In a statement, Mr Alexander’s family said: “It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night”.
Earlier in the day, French ex-patriots gathered at the French Institute in Manhattan.
“France is in mourning, I did not sleep at night”.
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“We will constantly keep that under review in the forthcoming days and weeks but we can’t let the terrorists defeat us by becoming fearful and withdrawing from the streets. Before residing at London, I had been living in southeast of Paris and I can predict the happenings in there”, said in his speech.
