JE SUIS CHARLIE: We are here to support freedom

 

 

 

 

Dozens of world leaders joined more than one million French citizens marching in Paris today amid high security in an unpredecented tribute to victims of this week's Islamist militant

'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 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 of revellers 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.' Scroll down for video +85 An estimated 3.7million people marched across France today, the majority gathering in Paris (above) to pay tribute to those killed by terrorists in a swathe of attacks across the capital last week +85 As night fell in the French capital, tens of thousands of people continued marching in 'unprecedented' numbers. Today saw more people flock to the city's streets than ever before in its history +85 Thousands remained in Place de la Nation this evening after some five hours of marching in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo and supermarket massacres +85 Local newspapers reported the crowds as being as large as 3.3million people, with an 'unprecedented' number of people turning out in the French capital +85 Protesters wave pencils and flags at Place de la Nation as the rally continued past dusk, with chants of 'Charlie' and the national anthem ringing loudly +85 Youths release green flares from the monument in Place de la Nation tonight as crowds remain in the city's streets after hours of marching +85 +85 Jubilance in the Place de la Nation where giant pencils on sticks and flags were waved after a lengthy march through the city  +85 Journalists and protesters wave banners and signs in support of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine which came under siege last week when terrorists stormed its office +85 Francois Hollande joined mourners at Paris Grand Synagogue for an evening memorial service held for those killed at a kosher supermarket  +85 Solidarity: Protesters hold up signs spelling out the word as crowds cease to disperese in Paris this evening after hours of peaceful protest +85 French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by leaders including Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (left), Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (fourth right), Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (third right) and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) +85 United: European Commission President President Jean-Claude Juncker, Mr Netanyahu, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Keita, Mrs Merkel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they attend the march +85 Arm in arm, world leaders, left to right: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union President Donald Tusk, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Jordan's Queen Rania, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other guests +85 Record crowds were seen in Paris today as an estimated 3.3million people took to the streets in protest against the massacres +85 As dusk fell in the French capital tens of thousands of people remained in the streets some five hours after they began +85 Crowds march behind a giant black and white banner reading 'Nous sommes Charlie' (We are Charlie) as night falls on Boulevard Voltaire World leaders link arms in Charlie Hebdo solidarity   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. '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.'  It was very moving - extraordinary circumstances to be doing it, and an extraordinary set of people to be doing it with David Cameron, British Prime Minister  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.’ +85 A group of youths scale the monument in Place de la Nation to chant 'Vive la France!' and 'Charlie' as rallies continue into the night +85 Two young women hold candles and flags in the French capital tonight as the peaceful protests continued across Paris +85 Muslim women light candles at a memorial for those killed by Islamic extremists in Paris this evening after a day of marching  +85 +85 Crowds gather one half of a giant inflatable pencil with protestations of freedom scribbled on its side as part of the march in Paris +85 +85 Waving their flags: Scenes from Place de la République today as people from around the world converge on the French capital +85 Starting at 3pm local time: People begin to gather at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration +85 Packed Free public transport was arranged to allow hundreds of thousands of mourners to flood into the city to join the march +85 World leaders and dignitaries, including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (left) and Mr Cameron (right), attend the mass unity rally +85 Emotional: French President Francois Hollande (left) comforts French columnist Patrick Pelloux (right) from satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo +85 Decent view: People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at the Place de la République +85 +85 An armed policeman on a rooftop in Place de la Nation (left), during a rally in central Paris (right) following the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks +85 Huge number of people: Demonstrators make their way along Boulevard Voltaire in a unity rally in Paris following the recent terrorist attacks +85 French President Francois Hollande (centre) welcomes the Interior Ministers Jorge Fernandez Diaz of Spain (second left), Bernard Cazeneuve of France (third left), US Attorney General Eric Holder (fourth left), British Home Secretary Teresa May (second right) and European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos (right) at the Elysee Palace before they participate in the march +85 A series of huge cards showing the glasses and eyes of Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier was also seen +85 Holding hands: Family members and relatives of the 17 victims take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris +85 Joining together: British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) met French President Francois Hollande (right) today at the Elysee Palace, Paris +85 +85 French President Francois Hollande welcomes Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrives at the Elysee Palace before the march +85 Hug: Francois Hollande and David Cameron embrace ahead of the leaders' procession through Paris today +85 Demonstrators make their way along Boulevard Voltaire in a unity rally in Paris following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris +85 People holding signs that read 'Je Suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) and 'I am Jewish' gather along an avenue leading to the Place de la Nation +85 US Justice Secretary Eric Holder shakes hands with France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve following the International meeting against terrorism at the Interior Ministry this morning +85 The route of defiance: An estimated 3.3million marched through the streets of Paris today to gather in the Place de la Republique As night fell a celebratory atmosphere spread among the remaining crowds, with youngsters scaling the monument in Place de la Republique to chant: 'Vive la France!' Still reeling from the shock of the slayings of innocent people across the capital last week, some spoke of their pride at the nation's resilience to threats against its freedom.  'When the killings happened, we were in shock because this was an attack on freedom - but today is a proud day for everyone in the city,' said Alina Mihalcea, 31, from Place de la Nation. EXPLOSION NEAR JEWISH GROCERY A controlled explosion has taken place close to the Jewish grocery where hostages were held on Friday as police anticipate the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Crowds at the scene of the tributes on Avenue Galliéni were pushed back by police and asked to shield their ears before a short bang. It is thought a suspicious package was found in a vehicle in a side street 100 yards from the Hyper Cacher shop, which remains cordoned off following the rescue operation. It is believed the explosion was made as a precautionary measure ahead of Mr Netanyahu's arrival to pay tribute to those who were killed by Amedy Coulibaly in the siege. 'When we won the World Cup in 1998, everyone was united and that is what today is like. 'Whatever you believe, whatever colour you are, wherever you are from - we are all the same. 'We are all together in the same country and we should live together in the best way that we can.' Anne-Claire Davy, who lives on the Avenue de la Republique where the march passed through, added: '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.'  President Hollande later joined the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin  Tonight, French President Francois Hollande and Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a service in rememberance of the dead. Prayers for the victims were read out in a solemn service at the Grande Synagogue de Paris, with leaders from the Muslim and Christian community also present. Haim Korsia, Grand Rabbi of France, spoke to the congregation and delivered a message of hope, saying it is vital that the city pursues a shared future. As police made their way through the crowds, marchers applauded them in recognition of their work during the last week. In the early morning, hundreds of heavily armed policeman stood guard on the city streets as a tense atmosphere prevailed. Mourners carried signs reading ‘Je Suis Charlie’ in support of those killed by the Kouachi brothers in the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Wednesday.  The city’s Jewish community was to be represented by rabbis and leaders, paying tribute to the four people murdered by Amedy Coulibaly in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris, on Friday.  Security services across the world have reportedly received intelligence that more terror attacks are ‘highly likely’, as a ring of steel was placed around the French capital for today’s march.  By mid-morning, approximately 2,000 police officers and 1,400 soldiers were deployed across Paris in an atmosphere described by one officer on the scene as ‘extremely tense’. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said ‘exceptional measures’ were being taken to try and prevent further attacks, including deploying snipers on roofs. Home Secretary Theresa May is among those scheduled to meet Mr Cazeneuve before the march to discuss the threat posed by Islamic militants.  +85 French President Francois Hollande (right) welcomes King Abdullah II of Jordan (centre) and Queen Rania of Jordan (left) at the Elysee Palace +85 French journalists holding up their press cards take part in a hundreds of thousands of French citizens solidarity march +85 In Place de la Nation, youths climb the Triumph of the Republic monument - erected to celebrate the city's freedom  +85 +85 In Place de la Republique (left), protesters wave flags from all over the world, the Tricolor the most prominent as elsewhere in the world +85 Involved: Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left), head of the conservative party UMP, and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (right) +85 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyahu visited a synagogue in the French capital this afternoon after taking part in the rally +85 Hours earlier the Israeli leader is spoke of plans to boost immigration figures of European Jews who, he said, were being hit with 'terrible antisemitism'  +85 Banner:Among members of the public at the march was Isabelle Gabarre, who had travelled from Normandy with her daughter Mathilde +85 Presence: Armed French military on the streets at Place de la Nation in Paris, the end point of the rally route today +85 Je suis Charlie: People lay flowers and candles at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris today after it was attacked by armed men +85 Tributes: A man places a flower at Place de la République in Paris before the demonstration this morning +85 Poignant: The phrase 'Je suis Charlie' ('I am Charlie') is spelt out in candles, surrounded by pens and pencils +85 Paris remembers: Another man at Place de la République before the demonstration, in which one million people are expected to take part President Hollande will also meet leaders from Paris’s Jewish community, who are still in shock following the atrocity at the kosher grocery store. The march will take place along two routes and between two major squares, Place de la Republique and Place de la Nation, with snipers on every rooftop. We are here to support freedom. We cannot be beaten. It is an important word, not only here in France, but around the world Isabelle Gabarre, march participant ‘Exceptional measures are being taken to ensure security and public safety,’ said a spokesman for Paris city hall, who said some 5,500 members of the security forces would be on the streets in total. He said entire streets would be kept empty to ensure ‘evacuation’ in case of any problems, and to allow ‘the free movement of police and emergency vehicles’.  Sewers and other ‘hidden spaces’ were also being searched before the rally, which had been due to start at 3pm local time (2pm GMT).  The march eventually started 25 minutes late, at 3.25pm, with Mr Hollande standing alongside Mrs Merkel. But there were no complaints from the crowd, who had put up with extremely cold January temperatures as they waited patiently. ‘We don’t mind if we stand still the whole time,’ said Luc Dufour, a 26-year-old who had travelled from Lyon for the march. ‘Thousands of us knew we had to be here, simply show how much we object to people killing each other.’ Over a million people gather to march in unity against terror   +85 Flying the flag: Sydney Beuvry, 20, from Paris, said: 'I am an artist myself, so freedom of expression is very important to me' +85 Grettings: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (left) welcomes Britain's Interior Minister Theresa May before the start of an international meeting aimed at fighting terrorism in Paris today +85 Talks: Interior ministers gather this morning at an international meeting aimed at fighting terrorism in Paris +85 Discussions: Mr Hollande (right) walks with Joel Mergui (centre), president of the French Jewish Consistory, after a meeting with Jewish organizations in France, at the Elysee Palace in Paris today +85 Je Pense Donc Je Suis Charlie: This banner held aloft in Paris today says 'I think therefore I am Charlie' David Cameron's message following Charlie Hebdo march WORLD LEADERS FROM COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS IN PAST YEAR Many of the world leaders attending the march today come from countries which have imprisoned journalists in the past year. The Committee to Protect Journalists says 221 journalists were jailed worldwide last year – with seven of these in Turkey, whose Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was at the march. Other countries who jailed media employees last year, and also had representatives at the march, included Bahrain (six imprisoned), and Algeria and Russia (both one). Leaders such as Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu will also have their own security teams in place. Vigipirate, France’s national security alert system, remains at its highest level, as buildings including synagogues and mosques are given particularly protection. Sydney Beuvry, 20, from Paris, said: 'I am an artist myself, so freedom of expression is very important to me. 'I am pleased to see so many people here today in support of all the victims. The people of Paris stand together against terrorism.'  There was a celebratory atmosphere in the city, as the people put on a show of defiance. A group of youths scaled the monument in Place de la Republique and led the crowd in a passionate chants of 'Charlie! Liberte!' and 'Vive la France!' in support of freedom as the thousands gathered applauded. Many countries of the world were represented in the crowd, with flags from Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Senegal, Cameroon and Cuba all present. Vanessa Almedia, 33, said: 'I'm from Brazil, but have lived here for five years. This was not just an attack on France, this was an attack on the world and on freedom.' The crowd held a spontaneous moment of silence in honour of the victims, before again breaking into applause and chants of 'Long live France!' Anna Demontis, 25, had 'Je suis Charlie' painted on her face and said: 'I am so pleased to see so many people here today. It makes me proud. 'This is a sign of hope and it shows that the world will not be defeated by terrorism.'  From Madrid to London, and Pisa to Ankara: 'Je suis Charlie' demonstrations around the world Holding pens and placards aloft with black tape across their mouths, thousands gathered around the world in solidarity today to voice their right to free speech. Cities paying their respects to those killed in Paris included Berlin, Madrid, Jerusalem, Strasbourg, Ankara, Brussels, Glasgow and Pisa as London's landmarks were lit in the blue, white and red of the tricolore. In London's Trafalgar Square, where Nelson's Column once commemorated Anglo-French hostility, France's flag was projected onto the walls of the National Gallery as hundreds sang the country's national anthem. Also lit were the London Eye and County Hall on the south bank of the Thames, while Tower Bridge was lit alternately in the colours of the French flag. London mayor Boris Johnson joined the the crowds in Trafalgar Square, telling them: 'Those people who were responsible for the attack at Charlie Hebdo and in the kosher supermarket had one objective only. 'That was to divide our societies and communities from one another, to foster mistrust and hatred and suspicion. +85 LONDON: The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square is lit up with the Tricolor as thousands descend on the square in protest against the Paris terror attacks  +85 LONDON: A ring of pens and pencils surround notes of peace and solidarity in Trafalgar Square this evening as crowd goers light candles +85 LONDON: The fountain in Trafalgar Square runs red in memory of those killed by terrorists in the French capital last week  'The worst possible thing would be to allow them to succeed and that's why it's so important that so many voices from all communities and across all religions have all joined together to denounce what has happened in Paris.' Also joining the crowds was deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, just hours after he was slammed by a former security minister for 'blocking' an anti-terror bill. Labour peer Lord West told the BBC's Andrew Marr show the government’s Communications Data Bill, dubbed a ‘snoopers’ charter’ by opponents, was needed to track terrorist suspects. The bill allows the security services to monitor who people are emailing and what they are looking at online. ‘I think that needs to go through,' he said. 'I was very irked that it was removed, in fact it was removed by the Deputy Prime Minister, when it had all been agreed across all parties.’ Joining the politicians were hundreds of members of the public holding signs saying 'Je Suis Charlie'. Some held pens in the air as a symbolic gesture to those killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack. Musician Shantanu Adib, 29, originally from Bangladesh, said he was raised a Muslim and the extremists scare the 's***' out of him. He stood in the square with a cartoon he had drawn with '#Je Suis Charlie' written underneath, which he said was a picture of an extremist but with a penis for a nose. +85 LONDON: A demonstrator holds a pen in symbolic support of the Paris victims in a solidarity gathering at London's Trafalgar Square today +85 LONDON: Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam join crowds in Trafalgar Square this afternoon as protesters gathered across the world +85 Earlier today the Deputy Prime Minister was accused of having a hand in enabling the movements of terrorists by blocking a Parliament bill   +85 LONDON: Mayor of London Boris Johnson joined crowds in Trafalgar Square this afternoon where the National Gallery was illuminated with the Tricolor  +85 LONDON: This young girl was among thousands of people gathering in Trafalgar Square in a show of solidarity with the march in France +85 LONDON: A woman in a beret proudly holds up a tricolor in Trafalgar Square as part of the unity rally +85 ROME: Lazio's football players sport Je Suis Charlie motifs on their shirts in a match against AS Roma in Italy this afternoon +85 LONDON: The same phrase is etched on to a piece of paper and placed in front of an Arsenal flag at the Emirates Stadium in north London +85 MANCHESTER: Fans hold pieces of paper covered in plastic pockets at Old Trafford today during a match between Manchester United and Southampton  The man, who now lives in London, said he had put the picture on Facebook and has since received death threats from the Bangladeshi and Pakistani community. He said: 'I am here to express our right to draw whatever we want and to also show solidarity. What happened, it was a planned attack. These guys are obviously well-trained and are practising hard-core Islam. 'I know they are in the minority, and there are a lot of good Muslims, but there are still a lot of these extremists that only want Sharia law where ever they go. To be honest with you, they scare the s**t out of me. 'I put my picture on Facebook earlier and I'm getting death threats already from the Pakistani and Bangladeshi community.' A 44-year-old man, who asked only to be called Jason, said there was disgust and anger about the attacks but he said they have created a movement of 'love.' He attended Trafalgar Square with a 'Je Suis Charlie' poster attached to his hat. The man, who moved to London from Aix in the south of France in 1982, said: 'Something much bigger is happening, we are all coming together as one and showing love and togetherness and I think this is gathering momentum. 'I think the perpetrators who did this have brought shame on themselves. I was disgusted and angry, but I think this togetherness that is coming out of it is beautiful. There is a movement of love happening.' A 24-year-old Parisian financial analyst, who lives in east London, said the events that evolved in France were shocking. 'I'm here working in London for eight months but I lived in Paris my whole life,' said the man. 'It was important to come here today to show we are all united and to make a stand for freedom of speech, liberty and democracy. 'I think it is very worrying that the perpetrators are French and there are lot of French people going off to fight Jihad abroad. 'Most of all, I think it was shocking the way the attacks were carried out - assassinations. 'My mother also lives near to where the second hostage taking happened, so it was a very scary, anxious time for me. But we have to show that we are not afraid.' PAYING TRIBUTE AROUND THE WORLD: HOW OTHER WORLD CITIES REACTED TODAY TO THE ATROCITIES IN PARIS BERLIN, GERMANY: Around 18,000 people gathered in front of the French embassy next to the Brandenburg Gate. Many brought flowers or pencils and help up signs saying 'Je suis Charlie' or 'Je suis Juif' (I am a Jew). Some protesters also held up cartoons published by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and played French chansons, speaking a mixture of German, English, French, Russian and other languages.  ROME, ITALY: Thousands of people participated in a silent demonstration in front of the French Embassy, holding aloft pencils, candles and placards. A small demonstration was also held in Venice's Campo Manin, drawing many young people. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Some 20,000 people marched silently through the centre of the European Union city, despite a bomb threat which forced the evacuation of the offices of the offices of the Brussels newspaper Le Soir. Another 3,000 marched in the western city of Ghent. VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Around 12.000 people joined Austrian leaders to pay homage to the victims, beginning beside the French Embassy and moving to the square next to the palace of the country's President, who also attended. The Vienna State Opera Choir sang works by Mozart and Verdi. MADRID, SPAIN: Those gathering included several hundred Muslims, who carried banners saying 'Not in our name'. They assembled next to the train station where in March 2004 bombs on rush-hour trains killed 191 people in Europe's deadliest Islamic terror attack. MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Around a hundred people, mostly French citizens, took part in a silent march in Moscow's Gorky Park. 'I am a French citizen who wants to tell the terrorists that we will fight against the terror and for freedom,' said France's ambassador to Russia Jean-Maurice Ripert. MONTREAL, CANADA: Thousands of people, repeatedly chanting 'Charlie', marched including Laurent Beltritti, a French flight attendant on a stopover, who said: 'I thought it was important to protest in favour of freedom and the right to express oneself without being killed by fanatics'.   ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Scores of demonstrators gathered in central Istanbul for a small rally. Minutes after the remembrance got underway, a man, apparently critical of the gesture, tried to cut them off, shouting 'Muslim blood is being shed!' The man was detained and carried away by riot police.   BEIRUT, LEBANON: Around 200 protesters gathered to condemn the attacks, carrying signs that said 'We are not afraid,' and 'Je Suis Ahmed,' - referring to the French Muslim police officer, Ahmed Merabet, who was killed as he confronted the gunmen. JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Several hundred people gathered at a memorial ceremony at Jerusalem's City Hall to express solidarity with France and the French Jewish community as officials hoisted 1,500 French flags throughout the city. RAMALLAH, WEST BANK: About 200 Palestinians and foreign supporters held a solidarity rally in the central Manara Square saying France and the Palestinians share the same values - liberty, equality and saving modern civilization against the 'criminals' spreading across the Arab world. GAZA CITY: In Gaza, around 20 people held a candlelight vigil. Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, said: 'We are here in this vigil against terrorism. The French people are friends of the Palestinian people and support them, so we are supporting them in return.'  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: More than 500 people rallied in Martin Place, where a shotgun-wielding Islamic State movement supporter took 18 people hostage in a cafe last month. The standoff ended 16 hours later when police stormed the cafe in a barrage of gunfire to free the captives. TOKYO, JAPAN: A couple of hundred people, mostly French residents of Japan, gathered in the courtyard of the French Institute in Tokyo. The institute opened as normal during the ceremony, with students shuffling in as the French flag - tied with a black ribbon - hung over the balcony.  NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Hundreds of mostly French-speaking New Yorkers braved below-freezing temperatures and held pens aloft at a rally in Washington Square Park, where a leather-clad pole dancer gyrated in a display meant to reflect the over-the-top cartoons in Charlie Hebdo. +85 MARSEILLE: An estimated 6,000 people gathered in Marseille's old harbour today. Around 3.3million people are thought to have turned out across France today  +85 BERLIN: A woman taped her mouth with the word 'Freedom' in front of the Brandenburg Gate near the French embassy in Berlin +85 MADRID: People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' behind a French flag during a public show of solidarity on Plaza del Sol  +85 JERUSALEM: People hold signs while attending a ceremony honouring the victims of the shootings in France this week in Jerusalem +85 THESSALONIKI: People hold 'Je Suis Charlie' placards, pencils and pens in front of The White tower today in Thessaloniki +85 STRASBOURG: People hold a banner reading 'Nous sommes tous Charlie' (We are all Charlie) during a unity rally in Strasbourg, eastern France +85 IVORY COAST: A girl holds a piece of paper with the phrase 'I am Charlie' outside the French embassy in Abidjan where paper flowers were left +85 ANKARA: Thousands of people held a protest in the Turkish city for the people killed in the terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices +85 BRUSSELS: A march against hate and for freedom of speech and tolerance, in Brussels, from North station to South station +85 GLASGOW: The French community in Glasgow come together to show solidarity with the rest of their country following the shootings +85 PISA: A woman holds a pencil and a poster reading in French 'I am Charlie', in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy DOZENS OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT SET TO JOIN MARCH Today's historic mass rally in Paris is expected to draw more than a million people and a long list of world leaders in tribute to 17 people killed in three days of Islamist attacks. It will include dozens of heads of state and government, along with French political leaders from both the left and right. Here is a list of world political figures who have confirmed their attendance: EUROPE French President Francois Hollande German Chancellor Angela Merkel British Prime Minister David Cameron Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Romanian President Klaus Iohannis European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker European Parliament President Martin Schulz European Union President Donald Tusk NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma Bulgarian Prime Minister Boïko Borissov Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven  Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibachvili Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz NORTH AMERICA US Attorney General Eric Holder Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney MIDDLE EAST Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Jordanian King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan Qatari Sheikh Mohamed Ben Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled ben Ahmed Al Khalifa and Prince Abdullah Ben Hamad al-Khalifa AFRICA Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Gabonese President Ali Bongo Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra