Thousands of people have gathered in Australia’s capital cities on to pay tribute to the 12 people killed in the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris.

Almost 2000 Australians and French nationals filled Sydney’s Martin Place on Thursday night, and left candles for people killed in the Paris shooting.

• Paris shooting: free speech in the firing line
• ‘Je suis Charlie’: World’s cartoonists take a stand

In December, Martin Place was the scene of the Sydney siege where two people were killed.

A minute’s silence was followed by the French national anthem.

According to an ABC report, France’s ambassador to Australia Christophe Lecourtier attended the vigil and told the crowd: “We shall never surrender to terror and terrorism”.

More than 1000 people also attended a vigil in Melbourne’s Federation Square, organised by Frenchwoman Maeva Siena who had a friend injured in the Charlie Hebdo shooting.

A vigil was also held in Perth’s Forrest Place, attended by 200 people.

Honorary consul for France in Western Australia, Patrick Kedemos said Australians stood in solidarity with the people of France.

“We are far away but our hearts today [are] with our families and friends in France,” Mr Kedemos said.

With a heightened terror alert in Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowed to defend “our way of life, our values”.

“My plea to Australians, home and abroad, is do not let terror deter you from living your normal life,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

Thursday was declared a national day of mourning by French President Francois Hollande.

Martin Place is a sea of white. All in support of #CharlesHebdo victims. pic.twitter.com/N8bNxbHY58

— Mohamed Taha (@Mo_Taha1) January 8, 2015

The message from Sydney: Charlie is not dead. #CharlieHebdo pic.twitter.com/KGzdtaNRmJ

— Mohamed Taha (@Mo_Taha1) January 8, 2015

#CharlieHebdo rally at Melb. Fed Square. Eerily silent pic.twitter.com/rwePSBbmk9

— Kemal Atlay (@kemal_atlay) January 8, 2015

A sea of #JeSuisCharlie signs held by French nationals in Sydney for #CharlesHebdo victims. pic.twitter.com/YC6rpzAyiZ

— Mohamed Taha (@Mo_Taha1) January 8, 2015

The French community in #Perth has come together after tragic events in Paris #JeSuisCharlie @abcnewsPerth @abcnews pic.twitter.com/TnT30VXXiS

— Courtney Bembridge (@courtbembridge) January 8, 2015

Mass live tweet for #CharlieHebdo #JeSuisCharlie from Fed Square. #solidarity pic.twitter.com/ogc8SO7olL

— Jake Wishart (@jake_wishart) January 8, 2015

Crowd gathers in solidarity @Fed_Square in #Melbourne to honour those hurt & killed in Paris attack #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/tcj4R2sAji

— Regina Blyth (@AstronautReggie) January 8, 2015