Commemorations held in Paris one year after deadly attacks

French President Francois Hollande opened a national day of commemoration one year after terror attacks hit Paris. Commemorations were held on Sunday in the city at the places of the attacks which claimed 130 lives.

The commemorations started in front of the door of the Stade de France in the presence of Hollande, mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and mayor of Saint-Denis Didier Paillard, Xinhua news agency reported.

The commemorations later went on to the cafes and restaurants Le Carillon, Le Petit Cambodge, La Bonne Biere, Comptoir Voltaire and la Belle Equipe, and ended in front of the Bataclan performance hall where 90 people lost their lives.

The commemoration in Bataclan started at 11 a.m. Plaques written "Floating but not sinking, Paris remembers" were observed and people paying tribute to the victims gathered around in deep grief.

This weekend, several tributes have already taken place. A minute of silence was observed on Friday at the Stade de France before the kick-off of a football game between France and Sweden, and the concert hall of Bataclun reopened its door on Saturday with a concert of the artist Sting.

Paris has been preparing for several months to organise the commemoration of the attacks of November 13 last year in close collaboration with the associations and the victims' families.

Mayor of Paris Hidalgo said Paris is a city that holds all the promises of its motto "crossing without ever sinking in the storms of history".

--IANS

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