Paris: The capital of anti-terrorism

Security authorities are monitoring reports that Ireland is being used as a training ground for jihadists, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said, as he was among 50 world leaders and senior figures leading a demonstration in Paris following the killing of 17 people last week.

The leaders linked arms with journalists and families of the victims at the head of one of the biggest demonstrations ever seen in Paris.

President François Hollande declared that Paris was the “capital of the anti-terrorist world”, while Mr Kenny said “we are all French today”.

As well as EU leaders such as Angela Merkel, Matteo Renzi, and David Cameron, also present were Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

The French Interior Ministry said it was impossible to say how many took part in the 3km march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation, but some sources say it was as many as 3m people.

There were also huge marches in most of France’s main cities and in capitals around the world, including Dublin, London, Sydney, Madrid, New York, and Stockholm.

Mr Kenny, before he left the Élysée Palace with the other leaders, said: “This is not about religion, this is about terror and cowardice, and this city which has seen oppression and revolution and terror, old and new, is an example today as many leaders of the world, sometimes old enemies, march in defence of fraternité, equality, liberté.”

He said he had spoken with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald about reports Ireland was a hub for would-be jihadists and home to one influential figure responsible for orchestrating violence and facilitating money laundering.

“There was a meeting of the security committee. This matter is being monitored very carefully by the security authorities in Ireland,” he said.

France remains on high alert and more than 2,000 police and 1,400 soldiers, including marksmen, were on duty around Paris.

Five people held for questioning following the murders were freed on Saturday while reports said the widow of one of the killers, Amedy Coulibaly, had fled to Syria. A video made by Coulibaly pledging allegiance to the Islamic State appeared online.

Justice and interior ministers who held a special meeting in Paris pledged to review security measures and a special EU meeting may be held during the week. They are especially interested in having the data of all people flying into and out of the EU given to the security forces, similar to the US system.

Despite three days of carnage that left the three gunmen dead, the three-hour rally was peaceful and good humoured, with most carrying placards declaring “Je suis Charlie” to commemorate those who worked at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.