French consuls honour deceased

A CEREMONY in memory and solidarity with the Republic of France after more than 132 people were killed in Paris on Friday was held in East London last night.

The honorary French consuls in East London Alain and Debbie Viane hosted the memorial in their Nahoon Mouth home.

About 30 friends gathered to show their respects, including the Italian consul Enrico Contardo.

The French flag was flown at halfmast surrounded by flowers in the colours of the French flag.

The deceased Parisians were honoured with two minutes of silence broken by an instrumental of the French national anthem before words of comfort were exchanged.

Alain, whose parents are of French origin, said there were no reports of any East London people or their families in France killed in the massacre.

“We decided to host the ceremony on behalf of the French consulate in Cape Town and to give the people of East London a register to offer their condolences which we will forward to the consulate.

“We understand the nervousness of the people in France and noted among the Parisians the closeness of all races and religions, including Christians and Muslims, and we do not believe this is a general Muslim incident, but a radical offshoot.”

More than 90 people were critically injured in the series of shootings and bombings that took place.

The attacks were launched during the first half of an international friendly soccer game between France and Germany.

Minutes later more attacks took place in central Paris where attackers opened fire on Le Petit Cambodge Cambodian restaurant in Rue Bichat, and Le Carillon bar.

Seven of the eight terrorists involved blew themselves up, and police killed another.

At least one suspect is on the run. Seven people were held for questioning in Belgium on Sunday although five were released by late yesterday afternoon. —