There have been protests across the world against the killings of 12 people in Paris today when gunmen broke into the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Social media users quickly responded to the attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo with the hashtag #jesuischarlie in an outpouring of solidarity with the victims and freedom of speech.
More than 5,000 people have gathered at Place de la République, a large square in the centre of the French capital, with many bearing the phrase - which translates as "I am Charlie" in English. There has also been a vigil in Dublin city centre.
Crowds gather in #Dublin in memory of the victims of today's shooting #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/Qu37yD4Hrq
— Philip Bagnall (@CynicalFilm) January 7, 2015
Others used slogans such as "press freedom has no price" and "Charb mort libre" (Charb died free), a reference to the magazine's editor Stephane Charbonnier, one of four cartoonists killed by the terrorists.
PHOTOS: Paris mourns slain #CharlieHebdo cartoonists http://t.co/Lx0hhplLaK #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/DoOITQWNlR
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) January 7, 2015
Sky's Joey Jones, in the square, said the mood is "incredibly sombre" as people flood in.
"It's the mood of a memorial or a wake really. Lots of people do have that sticker on their breast pocket or their arm of 'Je Suis Charlie'," he said.
"Among those people I have spoken to, there is anxiety as to what this might provoke in the coming hours and days in terms of a backlash.
"A lot of people have been saying they are anxious about a backlash towards Muslims or indeed other immigrant groups.
"So this is clearly an important moment for French society and the mood overwhelmingly is of reflection and profound anxiety."
Parisians spontaneously gathered here with candles, #JeSuisCharlie placards and French flags pic.twitter.com/0Vjr1PliHM
— Aurélien Breeden (@aurelienbrd) January 7, 2015
At least 20,000 people have also gathered in the French cities of Lyon and Toulouse.
"It's terrible these people were murdered. In future, no-one will be able to speak his mind. We have to demonstrate in our thousands," said one protester, Beatrice Cano, who was carrying the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo.
Trafalgar Sq is filling up with Londoners joining Parisians in their silent #jesuischarlie protest. pic.twitter.com/flH448go7l
— Ivana Kottasová (@IvanaKottasova) January 7, 2015
French newspaper Le Monde has compiled a map of planned protests across the globe.
Cities taking part include London, New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid, Rome and Moscow.
On social media, @LibyaLiberty tweeted: "As a Muslim, I absolutely refuse to apologise for this terrorist act. But as a Muslim, I demand justice for the victims& say: #JeSuisCharlie".
#JeSuisCharlie A minute of silence #AFP staff pic.twitter.com/mmBNbRbrJC
— Randa HABIB (@RandaHabib) January 7, 2015
Guy Verhofstadt, the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, tweeted: "A tragic day for the freedom of speech #jesuischarlie."
The Twitter account for the US Embassy in France also changed its avatar picture. It has tweeted there are no plans to close the embassy in Paris or other diplomatic facilities in France, despite misleading reports.
The website of the magazine has also been changed to show nothing but an image of the phrase.
