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Monday, 16 November 2015

France to observe minute's silence for victims

France will fall silent for one minute today in remembrance of 132 people murdered by Islamist gunmen in Paris at the weekend.

As a mark of respect and an expression of solidarity, world leaders at the G20 summit in Turkey will observe the minute's silence in remembrance of the Paris victims.

And all Whitehall government departments have lowered their Union Flags to half-mast.

Yesterday a special church service was held at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral to honour those killed, and the cathedral's famous bells were rung 129 times in homage to the victims of the terror attacks.

Paris Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois told church-goers: "Our country knows the pain of mourning and must face barbarity propagated by fanatical groups."

Residents and tourists were searched before they were allowed into the building which was surrounded by police cars on all sides.

Francesca Gazzino, an Italian tourist, said: "This (the attacks) is unbelievable. It is unbelievable. But we must carry on, we should not let fear take over us.

"I'm here because it is the first time I'm in Paris and I think it was mandatory to pray in Notre Dame - firstly, because I'm Christian and, secondly, for all that has happened."

Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin said all museums in Paris and nearby towns, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, will reopen today - two days after they were closed due to heightened security following the atrocity.

It comes as France launched a "massive" series of airstrikes on the city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group's de facto capital in Syria, destroying a jihadi training camp and a munitions dump.

The bombers hit a jihadi recruitment centre, training camp and arms depot run by the extremist group, according to the French defence ministry.

An international manhunt is continuing for Salah Abdeslam, 26, who is suspected of renting a car used to carry gunmen to Paris' Bataclan music venue where 87 people were killed.

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