National memorial for the victims held

Around 1,000 people attended the service in central Paris, including President Francois Hollande, survivors of the attacks and victims’ families. A minute’s silence was held and the names of all the victims read out. Attackers with assault rifles and suicide belts targeted a number of sites in the capital. Islamic State later said it was behind the assault.

In his speech, President Hollande said France would “do all it can to destroy this army of fanatics”. “It will operate relentlessly to protect its children.” he said. He vowed that France would respond with more music, concerts and sporting events, after some of the attacks targeted a concert venue and a stadium.

Among those attending the service were the parents of British victim Nick Alexander, who said that they were now “intrinsically linked” to those who had also lost loved ones. However, not all the victims’ families accepted the invitation to attend the service at the grand Les Invalides complex that houses a military museum and Napoleon’s tomb. 

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked France to draw up a map of where groups fighting Islamic State militants operate in Syria in order not to bomb them. Putin agreed with French President Francois Hollande on Thursday at the Kremlin to target Islamic State and similar jihadi groups in Syria.