Thousands pray for Paris terror victims at Notre Dame cathedral

Parisians of all ages attended the Sunday mass held at Notre Dame cathedral to pray for the victims of Friday's terror attacks.

On Sunday evening, when the doors of the historic Notre Dame cathedral in Paris opened for the first time since the Friday terror attacks, thousands of people gathered at the mass being held to remember the victims who were killed in the assault claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group.

The evening mass was filled to the brim with people, many of whom travelled from distant areas especially to attend the ceremony. In view of such a large gathering, especially after the terror attacks, security was high with police vans lining the streets surrounding the cathedral while armed officers rifled through bags.

Although security officials kept a tight watch, with the sound of sirens often louder than that of the church bells, there were several tense moments.

Halfway into the mass, residents at Place de la Republique panicked after firecrackers were reportedly set off. Another false alarm was raised in the Marais district near the cathedral.

On getting the news, a few people left midway nervously while most of the others, oblivious to the alarms, carried on with their prayers. 

The rest of the service passed without a hitch, and was a sombre and dignified affair.

People who attended the mass agreed that it was a moving service which ended with a short rendition of 'La Marseillaise', the French national anthem.