Paris attacks: World unites in solidarity

WORLD leaders stood united with France yesterday and pledged their support to the shaken country as the full horror of the Paris terrorist attacks emerged.

The iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House are lit in red, white and blue. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The Queen sent President François Hollande “sincere condolences” and said that she and the Duke of Edinburgh were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the events of Friday night.

US President Barack Obama called the attacks an “outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians” and vowed to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, described the killings as “heinous, evil” and “vile,” and said they were “an assault on our common humanity”.

The One World Trade Center spire is lit blue, white and red in honor of dozens killed in the Paris attacks. Picture: AP

He said the US stands ready “to provide whatever support the French government may require”.

The German leader, Angela Merkel, pledged to work closely with the French government to help hunt for the terrorists.

“This attack on freedom was aimed not just at Paris, it targeted and it hits all of us. That is why we must all respond together,” she said.

“We, your German friends, feel very close to you. We cry with you. We will lead this fight together with you against those who did such unimaginable things to you.”

The Calgary Tower lit up with the colors of the French flag to show support and sympathy regarding the Paris attacks in Calgary, Canada. Picture: AP

China’s president, Xi Jinping, issued a statement expressing solidarity with the French people and condolences for the victims of the attack.

The United Nation’s secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the “despicable terrorist attacks” in Paris, while the UN security council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of “the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks” to justice.

The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to the UK, said he condemned “the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris in the strongest terms”.

“More than a hundred people lost their lives while they were doing what they loved, or spending time with their loved ones,” Modi said in a statement. “We feel the shock, pain and outrage of the people of France. We must stand together in combating the major global threat of our times and to uphold our values and our way of life.”

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who is in Turkey ahead of a G20 meeting, observed a moment of silence together with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, in honour of those killed in the Paris attacks. The two leaders expressed solidarity with the French people at the start of a Turkish-Japanese business forum in Istanbul.

The newly elected Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said: “Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to our French cousins in this dark and terrible time.” He added that Canada has offered “all of our help and support to the government of France”.

The Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull extended Australia’s deep sympathy to the people of France. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said in a statement. “But our solidarity is with them too. When the French people left the stadium after that shocking attack, they were not cowed. They sang their national anthem proudly and that is how all free people should respond to these assaults.”

Pakistan said it “strongly” condemned the Paris attacks and “reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.

Nordic governments have condemned the Paris attacks, with citizens laying flowers and lighting candles outside French embassies across the countries. Denmark’s government ordered flags on official buildings to be lowered to half-mast yesterday as a sign of solidarity.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said in a tweet to French president Hollande: “I sympathise with you and your people; Afghanistan stands with France with resolve to tackle terrorism as a common enemy.”

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French president Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against terrorism.”