A vigil was held at Lime Street Station to honour the victims of last night’s shocking terrorist attacks in Paris.
The atrocities left at least 129 people dead and around 90 in a critical condition after gunmen launched attacks across the French capital, targeting restaurants, a football stadium and a theatre in a series of co-ordinated bombings and shootings.
The Liverpool vigil was quickly organised on Facebook by French teaching assistant Aurélien Renault. The 24-year-old, originally from Vire, studied journalism in Paris before moving to Liverpool.
His invitation was in French and read: “National unity is declared after the terrible attacks that have struck Paris, France and therefore the French. It is important not to be alone. France is everywhere, it is strong. Let us prove it!”
Aurélien told JMU Journalism: “I felt it was important to meet with the French community in Liverpool in the wake of this tragedy. In times like this it is easy to feel alone and bringing everyone together shows that we stand united against events like last night.”
Around 80 people turned out to show their solidarity and they were thanked for attending in several languages when the vigil moved across to the street to the Remembrance poppies display at St George’s Hall.
Cheryl Williams from Wavertree told JMU Journalism: “The obscenity of [the attacks] is unbelievable, there are no words to justify it. The effect this is likely to have on Muslims all over the world is immense.
“People need to stand in solidarity in honour of the French people who lost their lives, but also for the peaceful people of the Muslim faith.”
Thibault Legoimt, 23, from North France, works as an engineer in Liverpool and told JMU Journalism: “My friends in Paris are all safe but they are terrified and we are terrified for them.”
French President François Hollande ordered the closure of the country’s borders and a state of emergency has been declared across France, along with three days of national mourning.
With eight terrorists understood to be killed after the attacks, so-called Islamic State has now claimed responsibility for the mass killings, labeling France as a “top target”.