Speaking at the memorial service in the courtyard of the Invalides national monument, French president Francois Hollande promised the families of those killed and wounded in the attacks that he will do everything to destroy the “army of fanatics” responsible.
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Attendees at the service observed a minute’s silence as the names of the victims were read out. “Today, despite the tears, this generation has become the face of France”. “In an act of war, a horde of murderers killed 130 of our people and injured hundreds in the name of an insane cause and a betrayed religion”.
François Hollande, arriving to the national anthem La Marseillaise being played by the Republican Guard, attempted to address the trauma of a nation. Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s.
A 39-year-old Moroccan named Lazez Ahas also been charged after police found two handguns and traces of blood in his auto.
Also Friday, the final of the Davis Cup tennis tournament went ahead amid tight security in the Belgian city of Ghent despite the country remaining on high alert for a Paris-style attack.
In his speech, President Hollande said France would “do all it can to destroy this army of fanatics”.
“The ordeal has scarred us all, but it will make us stronger”.
In the run-up to the commemoration, Hollande called on the French to hang out the Tricolour: “Every French citizen can take part [in the tribute] by taking the opportunity to deck their home with a blue, white and red flag, the colours of France”, government spokesman Stephane Le Foll quoted Hollande as saying.
France would respond defiantly to the attacks, with more “songs, concerts and shows”, the president said.
“What we agreed, and this is important, is to strike only terrorists and Daesh and to not strike forces that are fighting terrorism”, Mr. Hollande said at a joint news conference with Mr. Putin on Thursday.
“No one knew that Salah was wanted, he (Ali Oulkadi) did not know”, Olivier Martins said after his client appeared in a Brussels court under armed guard as investigations continued into the November 13 Paris massacre which left 130 people dead. “Because that’s what they expect, want, that we are angry, divided and I don’t want to be pointing fingers at someone in particular”.
“We will not give in either to fear or to hate”, said Hollande on a cold and misty day in the courtyard of the historic Invalides, the 17th-century complex housing Napoleon’s tomb. And we will commune in the best of emotions, without being troubled by our differences, our origines, our colors, our convictions, our beliefs, our religions.
“Because we are a single and unified nation, with the same values”. Some activists have expressed concerns about police roundups.
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Hollande imposed a national state of emergency after the attacks, giving the government extrajudicial powers such as warrantless searches and house arrest.
