Hundreds of thousands of people marched through Paris on Sunday in a massive show of unity and defiance in the face of attacks that killed 17 people in France's bleakest moment in half a century.
Their arms linked, more than 40 world leaders headed the sombre procession, setting aside their differences for a demonstration that French President François Hollande said turned the city into "the capital of the world."
The Interior Ministry called the rally "unprecedented," and said the demonstrators were so numerous they spread beyond the official march route, making them impossible to count.
French media estimated up to three million took part, exceeding the numbers who took to Paris streets when the Allies liberated the city from the Nazis at the end of World War II.
"We have to stand up and show them that humour is alive and has not been destroyed."
People the Telegraph spoke to told of their desire to show that they were committed to defending the freedom of speech and wanted to show that they were not afraid.
"We have to stand up and show them that humour is alive and has not been destroyed," one marcher said.
The deadly attacks on a satirical newspaper, kosher market and police marked a turning point for France that some compared to the September 11 attacks in the US in 2001.
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