France holds solemn ceremony for victims of Paris attacks

French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech during a solemn ceremony on Nov. 27 at Hotel des Invalides for the tribute to the 130 people killed in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks. AFP

PARIS, France—France held a solemn ceremony on Thursday for the victims of the Paris attacks, showing photos of the 130 dead to a crowd of 2,000 dignitaries and those injured in the violence.

The homage began with the arrival of President Francois Hollande at the historic Invalides buildings on a cold and misty day in central Paris.

He walked in to the sound of national anthem La Marseillaise being played by the Republican Guard.

Among the crowd were some of the 350 people injured in the attacks, some in wheelchairs.

As photos of the victims played on a large black screen, three singers gave a stirring rendition of classic ballad “Quand on n’a que l’amour” (“When All We Have Is Love”) by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel.

The coordinated suicide bomb and gun attacks at bars, restaurants, a concert hall and stadium on November 13 were the worst-ever terror attacks on French soil.

They were claimed by the Islamic State group, and described as a declaration of war by Hollande.