HUNDREDS gathered in Glasgow for a special vigil to light candles and send messages of support as Scotland paid its respects to the victims of the Paris atrocity.

A large French flag was draped over the steps of the Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall with the message: "Pray for Paris – not afraid."

Around 500 people filled the steps and sat in silence as many lit candles and laid flowers around the tricolour flag.

Some carried cards with messages including "we are all Parisien", "Je suis Paris" and "Peace for Paris".

The silence was broken at one point with a quiet rendition of La Marseillaise.

The event on Buchanan Street was organised on social media by student Liam Bruce, who was "overwhelmed" by the large turnout.

John Campbell, honorary French consul in Glasgow, thanked people for their support.

The silent vigil came as Scottish politicians and religious leaders spoke of their sadness at the attacks on Friday night.

A further mark of solidarity with Paris came in the form of a projection onto the City of Glasgow College with the words "Je T'aime", while Glasgow's SSE Hydro and Edinburgh's Usher Hall venues were lit up in the colours of the French flag.

Later on Saturday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Glasgow held a peace conference and dinner at Bearsden near Glasgow.

Although organised before the Paris attacks, participants decided to observe a minute of silence for those killed in the atrocities.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Glasgow said it totally condemned the "barbaric attacks" and added their "deepest thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all the people of France".

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The Right Reverend Dr Angus Morrison spoke of the "indiscriminate barbarity" of the attacks in Paris.

Scotland's most senior Catholic archbishop, Philip Tartaglia sent a message of support to the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Vingt-Trois expressing his "sadness at the horrific events which unfolded in Paris last night".

The message from Archbishop Tartaglia, president of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland also promises to "join with you in prayer, commending to God's love and mercy all those who were killed, injured, and bereaved".