CIVIC and faith leaders in Bury have voiced their solidarity with France and the victims of last Friday’s atrocities in Paris.

The French flag has been flying at half-mast outside the Town Hall alongside the Union flag, as the borough showed its support.

Cllr Mike Connolly, leader of the council, said: “Our hearts go out to the people of France following these attacks, and our deepest sympathies go to the families and friends of those who died.

“We’ve had close links with France for decades with twin towns in Angouleme and Tulle, and I will be sending a message of sympathy to their residents expressing our sorrow and our wish to stand with them at this terrible time.”

Cllr Connolly said every section of the community was appalled at the Paris attacks, which had nothing to do with the true meaning of Islam.

“These atrocities were indiscriminate, and carried out by cold-blooded murderers, pure and simple,” he said.

Mohammed Soqheel, on behalf of Bury’s Strategic Interfaith Group, said: “All faith communities of Bury express their deep shock and sadness at the events in Paris. We wish to express our solidarity with all French citizens and those within our communities that may have been affected.

“In the wake of this horrific criminal act inflicted upon the people of Paris and by extension, upon people throughout the world, any act of violence against innocent people is an act of violence against all innocent people."

Tan Ahmed, chief officer of the Asian Development Association of Bury (ADAB), said his organisation and Bury's Muslim community condemned the "barbaric attacks in Paris."

He said: "There can be no justification for such acts of mindless cruelty and the Muslim community in Bury and indeed throughout the United Kingdom utterly condemns these barbaric actions. Our condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives and the injured."

In June, it was announced that ADAB would be tackling radicalisation and terrorism after being awarded a £20,000 grant from Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd as part of his Youth Aspiration Fund. A new mentoring programme for young people who show extremist tendencies is being set up with plans to work with schools, colleges and mosques.

Police chiefs in Greater Manchester, said in response to the Paris atrocities, they had made strategic changes to the policing profile of major events and officer presence in key areas to ensure that people feel safe to go about their daily lives.

Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said: “I would like to stress at this point that there is no intelligence suggesting an attack is imminent in Greater Manchester.

“The strongest message we can send to the terrorists is to go about our lives as normal, and show that they cannot overcome the people of Greater Manchester by use of fear and intimidation.

“However, we can all play a role in making the streets of our city safer, by remaining vigilant and informing the police immediately of any activity which arouses suspicion.”

• Bury Times columnist and former Bury footballer Jamie Hoyland was inside the Stade de France watching the France versus Germany game when the attacks were carried out. He said: “I felt very lucky to get home in one piece, but also very conscious of the fact so many people didn’t. It was the most terrifying night of my life.”