A MINUTE’S silence was observed at the Penns Place offices of East Hampshire District Council in Petersfield on Monday in memory of the victims of last Friday’s terror attacks in Paris.

There are now known to have been seven co-ordinated terror attacks in the French capital carried out by militants, claiming at least 129 lives and hundreds of casualties.

The silent tribute in Petersfield, led by district council leader Ferris Cowper at 11am, was one of many such acts across Europe in honour of the people who died in the French capital.

Mr Cowper said: “We are all shocked at the attacks in Paris on Friday night and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families across the city.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Paris, and indeed all people across the world who condemn this act of terrorism.

“Our thoughts are with those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy and I am sure I speak for all East Hampshire residents when I say we share in their pain and are united with them in sadness.”

Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council flew the French Tricolore at half mast alongside the Union flag outside The Castle in Winchester as councillors bowed their heads in solemn reflection.

Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said: “These attacks were horrific and appalling, and we share the shock and profound sadness that is being felt across Europe in the wake of these atrocities. Our thoughts go out to the families of all those individuals who were killed and injured.”

As one of the founding co-chairmen of Hampshire’s Interfaith Network, which promotes mutual understanding between people of faith, Mr Perry added: “I know from my many good contacts with Muslims in Hampshire, formed since we created the Interfaith Network, that they are just as sickened as people of all other faiths by the terrible events which took place in Paris on Friday.”

In a joint statement from the Winchester Diocese, of which Alton is part, The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, The Right Reverend Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton, and The Right Reverend David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke, said: “We have all been stunned by Friday’s tragic events in Paris and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families of the victims, and those who survived what was a wicked and horrific act.

“These attacks were evil. With their actions extremists sought to undermine community and to set communities and generations against each other.

“We must not let them succeed.

“In the wake of wickedness and barbarity, the truth is always one of the first casualties – and in this case it is the truth about our Muslim neighbours.

“The actions of these extremists do not represent the views of Muslims locally or worldwide, and we call on all Christians to seek the truth and to challenge the mistruths, half-truths and outright lies about our Muslim neighbours that are so often pedalled at times such as these.”

The statement continued: “Our diocese has a long and proud history of pluralism and community diversity. Inevitably, there will be times when we have our differences but the point is that we overcome these through dialogue and with compassion.

“To this end, we are continuing to work closely with community and faith leaders across Hampshire as we always have done.

“But we must not ever allow ourselves to take what we have for granted. Jesus calls on us to love one another and we must work to build community wherever we find ourselves – whether in the workplace or in places of rest and relaxation. We call on all Christian communities to pray for peace and to be part of the answer to that prayer.”

And Alton added its support for the people of France following Friday’s heinous terrorist attacks in Paris.

The French flag is flying from Alton Town Hall and people across the town observed the Europe-wide one-minute silence at 11am on Monday morning as a mark of respect and solidarity for a country in shock and mourning.

Alton mayor Pam Jones has written to Monsieur Roger Pellenc, mayor of Alton’s twin town of Pertuis, in the Provence area of south-eastern France, expressing “deep sadness” on behalf of the people of Alton over the “dreadful events that happened in Paris” last Friday and assuring him of Alton’s “continuing support”.

In her letter, Mrs Jones added: “You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”