Candle-lit vigil... tears for the dead
THEY came in their hundreds, young and old, to tearfully remember those killed and wounded in Paris.
All shared the same shock and disbelief reflected the world over by the terrorist attacks and wanted to express their solidarity through a candle-lit vigil in Glasgow.
The solemn gathering came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called on Scots to ‘unite in solidarity’ with France and spoke of her horror as the death toll mounted yesterday.
Despite the wet weather, members of the public flocked to the steps at the Royal Concert Hall at the top of the city’s Buchanan Street.
A diverse mix of nationalities filled the steps, including French citizens living in Glasgow, who proudly held aloft the Tricolore.
Candles were lit and flowers placed on the steps next to signs which read: ‘Pray for Paris’, ‘Not Afraid’ and ‘We are all Parisian’.
Vigil organiser Liam Bruce, 19, said he had spent Friday night worrying about friends living in Paris and had decided to set up the event as a way to help support them.
The Glasgow student said: ‘Some of my friends live in Paris and it took a long time to contact them.
‘I was lost and so worried. I thought, “What can I do?”. The answer was nothing, so I just thought I’d go on Facebook and organise an event. People care and we need to show people around the world we stand up to defend ourselves and each other and they can’t get us down.’
The Marseillaise was sung twice during the 30-minute vigil, ending with a round of applause and shouts of ‘Vive La France’.
Alice Lacombe, a 23-year-old PhD student from the Paris suburbs, attended the event.
All of her family are safe, but her sister came perilously close to being caught up in the attacks.
She said: ‘My sister and her friends were going to the theatre and heard a massive boom and they were all scared. They ran out and immediately were taken charge of by police before being taken safely home.
‘I feel really sad and angry. There’s no way to describe it. France is our home. I have family there. It’s like you’re not even safe in your own country now.’
Glasgow Nationalist MSP Humza Yousaf, Minister for Europe and International Development, took part in the vigil and sat next to John Campbell, the Honorary French Consul in Glasgow.
Mr Campbell described the attacks as ‘pure evil’ but said the people of Scotland had ‘big, big hearts’.
He added: ‘I’m very moved and I’d like to thank all these wonderful people who have come.
‘It was a tragic night of pure evil and barbarity that might make you for a moment despair for the human race, but then you come here. I found it very moving. I thank Glasgow, I thank Scotland.’
Glasgow City Council flew the French flag at half-mast from the City Chambers yesterday and projected it onto the City of Glasgow College building last night.
Miss Sturgeon chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee to discuss the response to the Paris attacks and also took part in the UK Government’s resilience meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
The First Minister also met Consul General Emmanuel Cocher at the French Consulate in Edinburgh, where she delivered a letter of support from herself and Europe and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
After signing a book of condolence. Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We are all shocked and horrified by the terrorist attacks in Paris. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France following the horrific events. We stand ready to help in any way we can.’
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dug- dale, who laid flowers at the consulate, said: ‘The purpose of terror is to make us afraid of one another, to be fearful of the ordinary and to make us suspicious of our neighbours.
‘But now more than ever we need to remind ourselves of what brings us together as human beings, as brothers and sisters, as neighbours, colleagues and friends, whatever our creed or colour, whatever our background.’
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘The choice of targets – a restaurant, a football match, an arts centre – show that this was as much an attack on our way of life as on any one nation or people.
‘It will not succeed. We will not be cowed by terrorists, nor willingly give up the freedoms we enjoy that they would seek to crush.’
Religious leaders also expressed their condolences.
Church of Scotland Moderator the Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison said: ‘My heart goes out in deepest sympathy to all who have lost family members and friends and to those who have been injured in this atrocity.’
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, sent a message of support to the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, expressing his ‘sadness at the horrific events’.
Glasgow Warriors’ European Rugby Champions Cup match with French club Racing 92, due to have been played in Paris yesterday afternoon, was postponed.