Anti-Islam protesters armed with flares and banners reading ‘Throw out Islamists’ descended on a quiet vigil being held for the victims of the Paris terror attacks in northern France.

Far-right demonstrators pushed their way through the congregation which had gathered in Lille to pay their respects to the 129 people who were killed in a string of terrorist attacks in the French capital.

They chanted ‘Out the Muslims’ and set off flares into the crowd of mourners after Front National leader Marine Le Pen declared French people ‘are no longer safe’ and called for France to take back control of its borders.

Despite causing widespread disruption to the peaceful vigil, the protesters ended up being chased away by members of the Human Rights League who told them ‘get out fascists’.

The protesters launched their disruptive attack yesterday afternoon as people across France turned out to pay their respects to those killed in Friday evening’s atrocities in the capital.

While people around the world also held candlelit vigils near major landmarks, the congregation in Lille was disrupted by the far-right Anti-Islam protesters who declared: ‘Expulsions les Islamistes’, which translates to ‘Throw out Islamists’.

The silent vigil had begun at 3pm but within just 15 minutes demonstrators spilled into the city’s main square shouting ‘Expel Islamists’ and setting off firecrackers.

Police were called to the demonstration but were hit with a string of Islamophobic chants, and the chaos spilled onto the road – temporarily stopping traffic – as the officers tried to control the situation.

Dozens of Human Rights League members who had turned out to the support the show of solidarity with Paris responded to the far-right protesters with chants of ‘Get out fascists’, while others waved signs which said: ‘I am not afraid’.

The groups were later split up by police and the Anti-Islam demonstrators ushered along towards a different street.

As soon as they dispersed, the congregation which had turned out for the candlelit vigil burst into a rendition of the French national anthem La Marseilleise.

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