Eiffel Tower goes dark in tribute to Paris attack victims

January 09, 2015 03:43

France's iconic Eiffel Tower was plunged into darkness tonight in a sombre tribute to the 12 people killed in the attack on the Paris satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

The lights normally illuminating the 324-metre (1,063-foot) tall monument at night were briefly turned off at 8:00 pm (local time) before gradually coming back on.

The symbolic gesture came as thousands of people gathered on the other side of the city in Republique square to hold a second night of vigils in memory of the victims of the worst attack on French soil in decades.

Other events will be held in the French capital in the coming days to mark the outrage over yesterday's attack on Charlie Hebdo, and to assert the right to freedom of expression -- a value France has long cherished and sought to protect.

"Our city has been a refuge for writers, philosophers, journalists who were threatened for their ideas," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told Liberation newspaper. "There is no place in Paris for extremist ideas of any sort."

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'The Songs Have Already Become A Craze'

'When it was confirmed that I would do the song, Manishaji walked up to me and asked, "Please Vijayshree, tell me how are you planning to do the song. Give me a rough idea so that I am mentally prepared".'

Mumbai Indians refuses to rest Bumrah

Mumbai Indians have no plans to rest ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the T20 World Cup

Waiting for...: US on India's probe into Pannun murder plot

The United States is waiting to see the results of the Indian investigations on the murder allegations.

Modi hails EC for 'violence-free' LS polls in first 2 phases

Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies.

Has Joe Biden Lost Interest In India?

Had it not been for the slow but sure emergence of China as a threat to the western order, would India have been accepted as a near-equal partner by individual western nations, jointly and severally, questions N Sathiya Moorthy.