Australians will come together to show solidarity with those affected by the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night which killed at least 129 people and left hundreds more injured.
Victorians, led by Melbourne’s French community, will hold a candlelight vigil and a minute’s silence at Federation Square on Monday evening, with French consular officials expected to speak. The French and Australian national anthems will play throughout the square.
In Sydney, the Opera House will be lit up in the colours of the French flag for a second night on Monday and a memorial service will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral, while in Brisbane, a vigil and minute’s silence is scheduled for King George Square.
In South Australia, a vigil will be held on Tuesday night at the Soldiers Memorial Gardens in Unley, to be attended by the French ambassador to Australia, Christophe Lecourtier, and the premier, Jay Weatherill.
In Canberra, the governor general, Peter Cosgrove, was the first to sign a condolence book for the victims on Monday. Cosgrove and his wife Lynne attended a ceremony at the French embassy, describing the events in Paris as “horrible”.
“Today we’re all to some degree French, as we stand with the people of the great French republic in their sorrow,” he told reporters.
More police were on the streets in Australia’s capital cities over the weekend, though the terrorism threat level has not been increased and the government has said there is no specific threat to Australians.
On Sunday the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, told radio 3AW that security in the state was being increased as a result of the attacks.
While police did not believe there was a direct threat against Victoria, there was extra security at public events on Sunday, including the City2Sea fun run and the UFC championship fight at Etihad stadium.
“It’s just about making sure we reassure the community ... that everything’s being done to keep us safe,” Andrews said.
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, also reassured people over the weekend there was no known specific threat to Queensland.
“I have been advised that the terror alert level in Queensland, particularly for our police, remains at high – as it was previous to this harrowing news,” she said.
“Detectives and intelligence officers are continuing to conduct threat assessments around the clock in conjunction with their interstate, federal and international counterparts.”
Many Australian landmarks were lit up in the colours of the French flag over the weekend as people around the country expressed their solidarity with and support for the people of Paris.
The #Melbourne Star is lit up for the French Flag after #ParisAttacks #UneBougiePourParis #MessageDePaix #Australia pic.twitter.com/sNWYpecXY6
— djvjgrrl (@djvjgrrl) November 14, 2015
Melbourne Town Hall lit up in the colours of the French Flag https://t.co/8GKTEwSWQ3 pic.twitter.com/Mey5uxR6US
— Wolf Cocklin (@wolfcat) November 14, 2015
Parliament House in Canberra bathed in the colours of the French flag. pic.twitter.com/NIQYAH3Avb
— Lyndal Curtis (@lyndalcurtis) November 15, 2015
Driving home and Council House in Perth 🇦🇺 is lit up as the French flag, we mourn with you Paris 🇫🇷❤️ #Pray4Paris pic.twitter.com/6Vm4zHdiDM
— Ash. (@ashlouisexo) November 14, 2015
Adelaide oval will be lit up & a French flag will fly on harbour bridge to show Aussie support for #ParisAttacks. pic.twitter.com/IcrTpDlDZS
— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) November 14, 2015
Brisbane is all lit up in the colours of the French flag. I love it. 🇫🇷🇦🇺❤️ #Praying4Paris #PrayingForTheWorld pic.twitter.com/KpoaEkustE
— ❁ (@KikiMareee) November 14, 2015
