Greeks stand in solidarity with French people after deadly terrorist attack

Greece's political leadership and Greek citizens stood in solidarity on Thursday to show their support for the French people after the deadly terrorist attack at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias sent a telegram to his French counterpart Francois Hollande to convey his condolences for Wednesday's attack which left 12 people dead.

"On behalf of the Greek people and myself personally, I express my strongest condemnation for this crime and feelings of solidarity to the French people, the families of the victims and the injured ones," Papoulias said in a statement released by his office.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, main opposition Radical Left SYRIZA party, and other parties also strongly denounced the attack.

Greek citizens joined people across the world in condemning terrorism. Athenians staged a symbolic gathering outside the French Institute in Athens to voice solidarity with the people of France.

Some of the demonstrators held copies of the Charlie Hebdo, others pens and pencils, a candle or banners, which read "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) and chanting "We are not afraid."

"We are not afraid of voicing, writing, or drawing our beliefs in spite of any monstrous violence," protester Panagis Panagiotopoulos said.

"Terrorists view democracy and freedom as their enemies," he added.

Dimitris Goulis, a teacher who mobilized his fellow citizens via Facebook to partake in the demonstration, explained that it was a "spontaneous initiative to express our outrage and sorrow for the killing of fellow European citizens and artists by the fire of extremists."

A similar gathering was organized in the northern city of Thessaloniki through social media. Protesters expressed their shock at the barbarity of the perpetrators, as well as their determination to defend the freedom of speech and democracy. Endit