CHINA TOPIX

03/29/2024 10:34:31 am

Make CT Your Homepage

Paris Attacks: France Holds Memorial Service 2 Weeks After Massacre

President Francois Hollande attending National Tribute to The Victims of The Paris Terrorist Attacks At Les Invalides In Paris

(Photo : Pascal Le Segretain | Getty Images News) President Francois Hollande attending a national tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

A national memorial service has been held in France following the death of more than 130 people during the Paris attacks two weeks ago.

According to Kathmandu, about 1,000 people graced the event in central Paris. Among them was President Francois Hollande, victims' families and survivors of the attacks.

Like Us on Facebook

As the names of those who lost their lives were read out by the announcers, there was silence. The ages of the deceased were also mentioned and it appears most of them are in their twenties or thirties. It was a long and painful listen as portraits were screened in the courtyard.

Islamic State claimed responsibility of the attack where gunmen with suicide belts and assault rifles seiged a number of sites in the city.

President Hollande in his speech retaliated that France will do all it can to bring the terrorism to an end. He explained further that the country will relentlessly protect its children.

The President vowed that France will not stop holding more music, sporting events and concerts. The recent attacks targeted a concert venue and a stadium.

The service was attended by the parents of British victim Nick Alexander, who said that they are now connected to others who also lost loved ones. The family voiced appreciation for the outpouring of love from around the world.They say this has been a great comfort to them and makes them even more proud to have had Nick as their son, BBC News reported.

The lyrics of iconic singer Jacques Brel echoed through the court of Honour of the Invalides. The song, "When all we have is love", was sang at a place where the French nation delivers its highest tributes to heroes and casualties of war.

Francois Hollande, who was the only one to speak, gave a brief and easy speech to pay tribute to the 103 victims.

Not all the victims' families participated in the service at the grand Les Invalides complex, which houses a military museum and Napoleon's tomb.

At least nine people are said to have been directly involved in carrying out the latest attacks.

All of them died, but two men, including suspect Salah Abdeslam, are on the run as a huge manhunt continues both in Belgium and France.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the attack, died during a police raid in Paris last week.

Real Time Analytics