A year of tears: Thousands remember victims of Paris’s 12 months of terror

French president Francois Hollande joined relatives of victims at a ceremony on Sunday to honor those killed in extremist violence in Paris last year. Mr Hollande and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo unveiled a plaque and an oak tree memorial to victims at newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market and from the night in November when a rock concert, cafes and the national football stadium were targeted. Tens of thousands of people turned out to watch what was supposed to be a low-key ceremony. Rocker Johnny Hallyday, the French Elvis often mercilessly mocked by satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, joined the army choir in a somber musical performance of A Sunday In January.

France needs to stand together. The country is resolved to get back on its feet and continue life as before. But there is a clear fear that there could be more terrorist attacks. There’s a feeling that it’s not over yet.

Paulette Lecossois, who spoke at the ceremony

The ceremony took place at Place de la Republique, a plaza that has become a symbol of Parisians’ solidarity since the attacks, which began a year ago. The violence left some 150 victims dead, while most of the attackers were also killed. Earlier, interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for national unity and insisted the government was doing all it could to protect France. However, he admitted that the authorities did not know the whereabouts of fugitive Salah Abdeslam, wanted over the November atrocities.

Paris is a sacred city. Whoever attacks Paris attacks the whole of humanity

Words of Victor Hugo, read out at the ceremony

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