Minute's Silence As Scotland Honours Victims of Paris Terror Attacks
A minute's silence will be held at a service today as Scotland continues to show support for the victims of the Paris terror attacks.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney will join Emmanuel Cocher, the consul general of France, at the 11.30am St Giles service to pay their respects.
It follows a silent vigil in Glasgow on Saturday where 500 people lit candles, laid flowers and left messages of solidarity with France.
Landmarks across the country, including Edinburgh Castle, the Hydro arena and The Kelpies, were also lit up in the colours of the French flag on Saturday night.
A book of condolence was opened in Edinburgh with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon among the first to sign it after visiting the French consulate in the capital.
St Giles minister, Rev Calum MacLeod, said the service will include special prayers for those affected and a minute's silence.
Mr MacLeod said: ' The act of remembrance at St Giles will be an act of solidarity with all who deal with the effects of terrorism. We trust that with the consul general's presence the people of France will be made aware of the concern the people of Scotland have for the enduring relationship between our countries.'
A service is also being held in the Scots Kirk in central Paris, which is expected to be open as normal today.
France declared a national state of emergency after gun and bomb attacks across the capital on Friday night which killed at least 129 people.
The First Minister took part in the UK Government's resilience meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Saturday and said: 'Scotland is a diverse, multi-cultural society and this diversity is our strength. Terrorist attacks are intended to divide us and destroy the freedoms and way of life we value so highly. We must unite as a community here at home - and in solidarity with France - to make clear that they will not succeed.'
People at the Glasgow vigil carried cards with messages including 'we are all Parisien', 'Je suis Paris' and ''Peace for Paris' with the poignant silence broken at one point with a quiet rendition of La Marseillaise.
The event was organised on social media by student Liam Bruce who was 'overwhelmed' by the large turnout.
The 19-year-old said: 'I'm staggered by how many people have turned out and by the silence - it's really dignified and respectful and that's the message that we want to get across.
There is no difference between us and France and I really wanted to make sure that Glasgow had a voice and showed that we care.'
A similar candle-lit vigil was held in Glasgow in January after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
John Campbell, honorary French consul in Glasgow, thanked people for their support.
He said: 'I'm overwhelmed by the numbers here and my heart goes out to all these people. I would like to say thank you to all theses people. Friday night was dreadful and a total horror and the only way to cope with it is to be together and stay together and this is exactly that.'
Anyone concerned about friends or family in Paris can contact the Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000.