Paris under siege: Merkel says ‘profoundly shocked’

“Let us give this answer to the terrorists by living our values with confidence, by reaffirming these values for all of Europe, now more than ever”, she said, telling France, “we cry with you”. In Germany, “the security situation in the Middle East will become a much bigger issue”, he said.

On Friday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her interior minister’s recent action to tighten border security without telling her. He decided three weeks ago to reapply a regulation, known as the Dublin rule, that requires refugees to apply for asylum in the first European Union country they arrive in.

“The federal government [of Germany] is in close contact with the French government and has proposed all possible support on its part”.

Frauke Petry, head of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), said on Twitter that Seehofer was advertising for her party with his calls for stricter border controls.

“We observe that Islamists are specifically approaching refugees in reception facilities”.

“This attack on freedom is not only aimed against Paris”.

Merkel, who has come under pressure from senior conservatives to agree on tougher measures in the refugee crisis, will give an in-depth television interview later in the day. “We believe in the rights of every individual to seek his fortune, in respect for others and in tolerance”.

“I am profoundly shocked by the news and images from Paris”.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks in which gunmen wearing suicide bombing belts killed 127 people in several locations in the French capital on Friday.

The Greek minister for citizen protection, Nikos Toskas, said one of the men had been registered on the Greek island of Leros in October.