Rallies planned across Canada to support French terrorism victims

MONTREAL — Rallies and vigils are planned in cities across Canada today in support of the victims of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver are among the cities planning events to honour those who died at the hands of al-Qaida linked gunmen during three days of bloodshed.

The Canadian events come on the same day of a major unity rally planned in Paris to mourn the victims, and to denounce terrorism.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney is attending the Paris event on behalf of the federal government.

The leaders of Britain, Germany, Italy, NATO and the Arab League are also expected to attend — prompting the deployment of an additional 2,000 police personnel to enhance security.

Seventeen people were killed and several more were critically wounded in the attacks on a satirical newspaper, a kosher supermarket, and on police. The three men responsible for the violence that shook France to its core all died in shootouts with police.