The Eiffel Tower in Paris turned off its lights in a show of mourning and support after scores were injured and five killed in a vehicle and knife attack near the United Kingdom’s Parliament Wednesday.
“I will turn my lights off tonight, at midnight, to pay tribute to the victims of the London attack,” the tower’s Twitter account posted Wednesday, sharing a photo of the tower’s spire shrouded in darkness.
I will turn my lights off tonight, at midnight, to pay tribute to the victims of the London attack. #EiffelTower pic.twitter.com/MTnkoflVv3
— La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) March 22, 2017
Paris’ mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote in French that “we are united” when she announced she had ordered the lights be switched off at midnight.
J'ai décidé l'extinction de la #TourEiffel, ce soir à minuit, en hommage aux victimes de l'attentat survenu à #Londres. #NousSommesUnis
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) March 22, 2017
Though the Eiffel Tower’s lights are usually dimmed between 1 and 2 a.m. every day, France’s iconic wrought iron tower has used its lights to make international statements of support before, according to the Independent. Late last year, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights in solidarity with the victims in Aleppo, Syria, and used rainbow-colored lights to mourn the victims of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting last June.
But Paris’ gesture was not the only sign of support for victims of the attack Wednesday — several London Underground stations had messages of support written on whiteboards Thursday morning after the attack, with thoughts and quotes of the day encouraging commuters that “London is open” and “we are not afraid.”
Hard to write today. #Westminster #RIP #LondonIsOpen #LAS #LFB #metpolice #BTP #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/YVMiSwqXpu
— Tower Hill Station (@towerhilltube) March 23, 2017
Very poignant words at #Tooting Bec tube today. #LoveLondon ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6h65dx9ws4
— Tooting About (@TootingAbout) March 23, 2017
London police announced Thursday that they had arrested eight people in connection with the attack, which led to the fatal stabbing of a police officer and four others dead before the assailant was shot and killed.
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