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Charlie Hebdo attack: Thousands join vigils in Paris, London, Berlin and around the world

People held up pens to symbolise freedom of expression and wore stickers saying "je suis Charlie"

Wednesday 07 January 2015 19:39 GMT

People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris (Getty Images)

Thousands of people have flooded Paris’ Place de la Republique in a vigil to pay tribute to the victims of the attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Journalists held up their press cards as members of the public silently raised pens in the air in a poignant symbol against what is being seen as an attack on freedom of speech.

The phrase “je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) has become a rallying call for people expressing solidarity with the victims around the world, with many Paris protesters wearing the slogan on stickers and painting it on giant placards.

The mood was said to be sombre but defiant, with groups of friends quietly talking and comforting each other, trying to come to terms with the day's horrifying events.

Organisers urged people to bring signs and flowers to commemorate the attack on Charlie Hebdo, as well as pens “to celebrate freedom of expression”.

A statement added: “This is about peace. Haters, stay at home!"

The Independent's Andrew Griffin described the atmosphere as "very quiet".

"The bells from the church next to the square seem louder somehow. There are hundreds of people here and everyone is facing towards a tricolour in the middle of the square," he added.

The silence was reportedly only broken by a sombre rendition of French national anthem the Marseillaise.

People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' (Getty Images)

According to a map compiled by French newspaper Le Monde, Charlie Hebdo vigils are being held tonight in Dublin, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Tunis, Lima, Rio de Janeiro and in cities across France.

A single black ribbon also appeared on the French version of Google on Tuesday evening in a token of mourning.

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pencils, representing the freedom of expression, placed in tribute in Nantes

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

France's Jason Lamy Chappuis soars through the air over a message that reads "Je suis Charlie"

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Solidarity in Nice

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Turkish citizens organised a vigil in front of the French consulate in Istanbul

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Graffiti decorates a London wall in solidarity with the victims of the attack in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A tribute of flowers and candles outside the French Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Messages of sympathy near the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Workers install a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) on the Palais des Festivals facade in Cannes

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman looks at floral tributes left outside the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman places flowers near the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalists of international press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) hold signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) at their headquarters in Paris as they observe a minute of silence for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris which left at least 12 dead and many others injured

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pens and pencils are placed in the form of a peace sign over the names of late French cartoonists Cabu, Tignous, Wolinski and late Charlie Hebdo editor Charb on the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Australia mourns victims of the Paris massacre at Federation Square in Melbourne

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is pictured with his sand sculpture, in tribute of those who lost their lives in the attack by gunmen on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard that reads "I am Charlie" as members of the European Parliament and citizens gather during a minute of silence for victims of the shooting at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A painting of the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic is placed between candles to commemorate the victims killed in an attack at the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pencils and flowers of condolance are placed at the French embassy at Pariser Platz in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Mourners hold signs depicting victim's eyes during a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper that fell victim to an terrorist attack, at Union Square in New York

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man lights candles set near the portrait of three of the four cartoonists killed, in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds the French national flag tied a black ribbon as he and others gather in Lyon to pay their respects

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Parisians gather to pay respect for the victims of a terror attack against 'Charlie Hebdo'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather in front of the 'Club de la presse' in Montpellier, to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, is placed outside the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The message reads 'Victims of their success, R.I.P.'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman lays a candle during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People take part in a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, following the deadly terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People light candles forming the name Charlie during a gathering in Strasbourg, eastern France

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard reading 'With all our heart with Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the press: Our freedom' during a gathering in Marseille, southern France

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

The French and European union flags fly at half-mast at the French Embassy in Washington, DC

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather at the Place Royale in Nantes to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Flowers, candles and a sign reading 'I am Charlie' are placed against a wall during a demonstration in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: 'Journalism students : Solidarity' as they raise pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather for a rally in solidarity with the killed Charlie Hebdo employees, in Geneva, Switzerland

EPA

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard reading: 'Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass' as others hold up placards reading in French, 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique, following the terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold candles at a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack, at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather in front of the city hall of Rennes, western France, following the attack in Paris

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Gunmen burst into the magazine’s offices at around 11.30am this morning and opened fire on journalists and cartoonists gathered for an editorial meeting.

Witnesses said they shouted “Allahu akbar” and claimed to be “avenging the Prophet Mohamed” in an apparent reference to the magazine’s publication of controversial cartoons that led to previous threats and a firebombing attack in 2011.

At least 12 were killed, including police officers, and 11 more were more injured. Four are in a critical condition in hospital.

A huge manhunt is underway for the three suspects, who police said fled in a stolen car.

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