Football players mourn Paris attack victims in French league

French club Lille held a minute of silence before Wednesday’s home league game against Evian as a mark of respect for the victims of a terror attack against a satirical newspaper in Paris.

Masked gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar!” stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo newspaper earlier Wednesday, killing at least 12 people, including the paper’s editor, before escaping in a getaway car.

In a statement, Lille president Michel Seydoux expressed “his deepest sadness” at the events, while both clubs said their players will wear black armbands.

The French league said a minute of silence will also be observed before every game in the top two divisions over the weekend.

Many sportsmen took to Twitter to express their solidarity, including Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany and former cyclist Lance Armstrong.