Express & Star comment: We will all take a stand with Paris
Thousands of Parisians have taken to the streets to take a stand against the murderous terrorists who targeted innocent people in this capital city.
"We won't be scared, we won't live in fear of these people," stated one of the many devastated and mourning citizens who had gone to pay their respects to the victims of the devastating massacre.
The people of Paris are hurting, they are mourning and they have every reason to be afraid. But they will not hide away, licking their wounds. They will not let the terrorists win.
The Express & Star reporters out in Paris have been in awe as they witnessed the bravery and determination of the city's residents.
They are trying to go about their lives as they did before this terrible atrocity rocked the city.
It is the second time Paris has been targeted by terrorists. The world was left reeling from the Charlie Hebdo shootings in January which claimed the lives of 12 employees of the magazine.
Paris is today grieving the loss of 132 people, slain by a faceless and cowardly enemy.
The people have every right to think they are at war, that the third world war is here. But it is an unfair war - an enemy who hides in the shadows targeting the innocent and the vulnerable, striking when they least expect it and are unable to prepare or protect themselves.
It is a war driven by hate – laughingly under a false veil of religion.
No religion would advocate such callous slaughter, it is pure evil behind these attacks.
While these animals hide away plotting and spreading their bile, the people of Paris are making their stand – and they do not stand alone. The world stands with them. We will never give in to terrorists. We will not be scared into hiding and we will not be terrorised into submission.
As the French flag illuminates landmarks across the world and vigils are held across the globe, it the the terrorists who need be afraid.
These evil atrocities will only unite the world against the terrorists who wreak murder and savagery. Unite us in our fight to stamp out terrorism.
This was not just an attack on Paris or France, it was an attack on the civilised world. It was an attack on every country, culture or race that believes in freedom, in civic rights, in common decency.
These deluded extremists should look at the growing display of tributes being paid to the victims of the massacre - their victims. They should count the numbers of people taking part in vigils or marches paying their respects to victims and standing together against terrorism – against them.
They should take note of the number of landmarks across the whole world from Australia, to Japan to Europe and America lit up with the French flag – united against terrorism, against them.
These heartless killers might also want to look closely at the faces of the innocent people caught up in a war they had no part in.
Look at the faces of the friends and family who loved them and have had their hearts ripped out by these murderers. They should take a hard look at these faces because we are, and it only strengthens our resolve.
The world stands strong with France today – and the world is a pretty big place to take on. Do the IS followers and other extremists really think they can declare war on the whole world?
It is they who will be in hiding and they who should be afraid. We will never give in to terrorism and as we mourn the tragic loss of those 129 victims today we are united in our resolve to bring the murderous regime behind this attack to justice.
