Belgium: European Parliament honours Paris victims with minute silence

A commemorative ceremony and minutes silence was held for the victims of the Paris attack in the European Parliament Hemicycle in Brussels, Tuesday. President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, addressed the Parliament, emphasising the importance of not conflating refugees from Syria with the attackers, stating "If we start suspecting all the refugees from Syria then we are throwing the victims and the murderers into the same bag," adding "these migrants are looking for sanctuary from barbarity and the barbarity of these assassins." European Parliament members sang a rendition of the French national anthem 'La Marseillaise' before listening to a musical piece by a violinist and finishing the session with a minutes silence in memory of the victims of Friday's attacks in the French capital. At least 129 people were killed and more than 349 left injured 99 critically, after a series of coordinated attacks were carried out at six different locations across Paris on Friday evening. At least 87 of those victims were killed after gunmen opened fire during a concert at the Bataclan theatre, taking dozens hostage before detonating suicide bombs. Police stormed the venue, freeing the hostages and killing one of the attackers. Dozens more were killed in attacks at the French national stadium and a string of popular bars and restaurants. The, so-called, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.