Sting reopens Paris attack music venue

Legendary British rocker Sting performed at the refurbished Bataclan music hall here on Saturday night to mark the one-year anniversary of the terror attacks in the French capital which killed 130 people.

Sting started his concert with a minute of silence. "We will never forget them," he told the crowd in French.

"Tonight we have two tasks to achieve," he said, adding "First to remember those who lost their lives in the attack, and then to celebrate life and music in this historic place."

He then started to sing his popular hits, such as "Fragile" "Message in a Bottle" and "Every Breath you Take", Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the 1,500 concert-goers, about 250 were survivors and victims' families.

On November 13, 2015, three Islamic State (IS) militants sprayed automatic gunfire into the crowd at the Bataclan concert stadium, killing 90 people in the deadliest terrorist attack in France's history.

In coordinated attacks on that day, other terrorists struck a sports stadium, restaurants and cafes in Paris, causing another 40 deaths.

France will formally commemorate the victims of the attacks on Sunday, when President Francois Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo unveil plaques outside the Bataclan and other targeted sites.

--IANS

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