Thousands of people took to the streets of France early today (last night in Paris) to honour the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris, with a false alarm briefly causing a mass panic on an iconic square in the French capital.
The Place de la Republique has become a defiant gathering place after deadly attacks in January that had targeted the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.
Hundreds of people returned to the square to lay flowers, light candles and stand together, despite a ban on large public gathering that was put in place after Friday's attacks, which left at least 132 people dead.
Some people on the square offered "free hugs," while one sign proclaimed "Not even afraid."
Last Friday, the attackers targeted restaurants and cafes close to the square, as well as the nearby Bataclan concert hall.
Panic briefly broke out on the square yesterday afternoon, with a dpa photographer observing people hurriedly leaving. The France Info broadcaster said there had been a report of gunfire, but police later said that it was a false alarm.
Television broadcasts later showed people returning to the square.
'A bad joke'
In the east of the city, others were also seen at one point hectically making their way out of the Belleville subway station.
Heavily armed policemen rushed over, but one of them later told a dpa journalist that a "bad joke" was to blame.
Rumours of an incident led store owners in the area to quickly close their doors.
On Sunday evening, a mass was held in the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral to honour the victims of Friday's attacks. Police carefully searched the bags of the many attendees before letting them in.
A ceremony was also planned on Sunday evening at Paris' Grand Synagogue.
People gathered in other French cities too to honour the victims.
Some 3,500 people came together in Brest, AFP reported. They sang France's national anthem and held a minute of silence.
Gatherings honouring the victims were also held in other countries.
- dpa
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