More than 3.7m people marched in the streets of Paris and across France on Sunday in a defiant display of unity against terrorism and racism, after the deadliest attacks on French soil in more than half a century struck the nation at its core.

The dense and determined crowd flooded the Place de la Republique in the capital to pay tribute to the 17 victims murdered in attacks over three days last week by Islamist extremists targeting French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police forces and a Jewish supermarket. More than 50 foreign leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa linked arms around President Fran?ois Hollande at the start the march. “Paris is today the capital of the world,” Mr Hollande said. “France is going to rise to its best.”

Marchers, many with very young children, braved the increased terror threats by chanting La Marseillaise, waving “Je Suis Charlie” signs and applauding police squads over Friday’s denouement, which resulted in the three suspects being killed in dramatic assaults by special forces.