[WATCH] France holds moment of silence for Nice vicitims

A moment of silence was held today at noon around France, but in particular on Promenade des Anglais in Nice, in homage to the victims of the Bastille Day attack.

French president François Hollande and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve observed the moment of silence in Beauvau sqaure, while Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Health Minister Marisol Touraine observed it in Nice, taking place in front of the monument commemorating the 100th-year anniversary of the unification of France on Promenade des Anglais.

To honour the victims, the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was sung in Paris and penetrated the hearts of all those present, the French interior ministry tweeted.

En hommage aux victimes, la Marseillaise résonne dans la cour de @Place_Beauvau #minutedesilence #Nice06 #Nice pic.twitter.com/6aLBqpNUg4

— Ministère Intérieur (@Place_Beauvau) July 18, 2016

People gathered with flowers in their hands and tears in their eyes. The crowds stood on the rocky beach for several minutes as they looked on at the Promenade des Anglais.

The moment was extended to other countries, as the French ambassador to China Maurice Goudault-Montagne, led a moment of silence at the French embassy in Beijing.

Last Friday, the city of Milwaukee in the United States held its own moment of silence in front of the Bastille Day Eiffel Tower, which can be found in that city.

Similarly, while the Tour de France went on as planned, former Tour winners Bernard Hinault and Bernard Thevenet stood with heads bowed for a minute of silence.