Millions take to the streets of France
After 17 people were killed in terrorist attacks this week in Paris, some 50 leading politicians joined over 3 million people in taking to the streets in solidarity rallies around France.
Hundreds of thousands unafraid
People flooded into the streets of Paris, as well as other cities around France and the world, to rally in support of freedom and tolerance. The marches served as a memorial for the victims of terrorist attacks this week at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in Paris.
Largest rally in French history
Hours ahead of the march's official start, Paris' Place de la Republique was a sea of people. Representatives from all of France's unions and major political parties, with the exception of the Front National, took part in the rally .France's Interior Ministry called the march the largest in French history.
A sign of solidarity
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the march on Sunday with other heads of state and government from around the globe. Some 50 world leaders took part in the march.
A shocked country
The rally was a memorial to the 17 people killed in a series of murders that shocked France. On Wednesday, two brothers stormed into the Charlie Hebdo editorial office and killed the magazine's editor in chief and nine other staff members, as well as two police officers. On Friday, a third man killed four hostages during a siege at a Paris kosher supermarket.
Crisis meeting
Ahead of the march, European Union interior ministers met to discuss how to combat terrorism. The acts of terrorism suffered by France affect all democracies, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said after the meeting. US Attorney General Eric Holder, who also took part in the meeting, announced a February summit to fight violent extremism.
On high alert
Since the first shooting at the Charlie Hebdo office, French security authorities have been on high alert and remained so throughout Sunday's march. Both al Qaeda and "Islamic State" extremists have vowed there would be more terrorist attacks.
Marches across France
Paris was not the only French city to host solidarity rallies. People took to the streets of Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille (seen above) and Rennes, among others.
International solidarity
Marches were also held in Berlin, Madrid, London, Brussels and other large cities around the world. In Berlin, some 18,000 people took to the streets and assembled near the Brandenburg Gate at Pariser Platz, where France's embassy in Germany is located. Many held signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie), a rallying call that has gone out around the world since Wednesday's attack.