Paris mourns terror attack victims

A subdued France paid homage to those killed two weeks ago in the attacks that gripped Paris in fear and mourning, honouring each of the 130 dead by name as the president pledged to “destroy the army of fanatics” who claimed so many lives.

With each name and age read aloud inside the Invalides national monument, the toll gained new force. Most, as French president Francois Hollande noted, were under the age of 35, killed while enjoying a Friday night of music, food, drinks, or sports. The youngest was 17, the oldest 68.

Throughout Paris, French flags fluttered in windows and on buses in uncharacteristic displays of patriotism in response to Paris’ second deadly terror attack this year. However, the mood was grim, and the locked-down ceremony at Les Invalides lacked the defiance of January, when 1m people poured through the streets to honour those killed by Islamic extremist gunmen.

Hollande, who in January locked arms with world leaders in a show of global unity against terrorism, sat solitary in a hard-backed chair in the cavernous courtyard, the assembled mourners behind him as victims’ names were recited. France’s military provided the only images of Friday’s ceremony, and no one without an invitation was permitted inside.

“To all of you, I solemnly promise that France will do everything to destroy the army of fanatics who committed these crimes,” Hollande said.

The speech was dedicated above all to the dead and France’s young.

Two men are wanted in connection attacks — Salah Abdeslam, whose brother was among the suicide bombers and who is believed to have fled to Belgium, and Mohamed Abrini, whose role has never been made clear.