BROMSGROVE people of all faiths are being invited to a special memorial service in wake of the 129 people brutally murdered by terrorists in Paris.

Following the attacks on Friday, which saw gunmen and suicide bombers targeting various venues throughout the capital city including the 1,500-seat Bataclan theatre where 89 were slaughtered, the Bromsgrove Muslim Community Trust labelled the terrorists “manipulative and evil.”

At least 350 people were injured in the siege.

A service, which has been arranged by St John’s Baptist Church in partnership with the trust, will be held at the Kidderminster Road church on Sunday at 12.30pm.

Trust chairman Dr Waqar Azmi OBE said: “We are deeply shaken and appalled by the horrifying Paris attacks and our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the victims, and the French nation.

“There is no justification for murder and those who commit acts of violence cannot do so in the name of any faith. Any such claim is manipulative and evil. Terrorism has no religion or moral standing. No faith or belief can ever justify the killing of innocent people.

“We urge people of all faiths and those with no faith to stand firm in unity and solidarity. We must not let these terrorists divide us, otherwise the terrorists will win. Let us not play into their divisive narrative, and instead show them that people of all faiths and none can live peacefully, together.”

After the attacks, President of France François Hollande declared three days of national mourning.

Following news of the atrocity, Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid said he was “shocked” and “saddened”.

“In the face of hatred and violence we will not be afraid, we will not be divided, we are united,” he said.

“I know I speak on behalf of all Bromsgrove residents when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France following the appalling terrorist attacks in Paris.”

“Paris’s motto translates as ‘she is tossed by the waves but does not sink’- It’s an ideal we should take to heart.”

Bromsgrove team rector, Rev Christine Holzapfel, added: “There is nothing more encouraging and heart-warming than people coming together, to grieve together and to stand in unity and solidarity with those who suffer.”

“By coming together in this way we will be remembering the victims as well as showing that true religion promotes peace not terrorism.”

An international manhunt has been launched as the UK prepared to recruit almost 2,000 more spies to counter the Islamic State (IS) threat.

IS - also known as Isil and Daesh - has claimed responsibility for the Paris atrocities and French forces struck back with a massive bombardment of the jihadist group's stronghold in Raqqa, Syria.

12 aircraft, including 10 fighter jets, dropped 20 bombs, destroying a jihadi training camp and a munitions dump in Raqqa, where Iraqi intelligence officials claimed the attacks on Paris were planned.

The assailants are believed to be Salah Abdeslam, 26, Brahim Abdeslam, 31, who died near Bataclan concert hall, Omar Ismail Mostefai, 29, who also died in attack on Bataclan and Bilal Hadfi, 20, who died at the Stade de France.

Security has been beefed up in UK cities and ports as Britons were urged to remain vigilant, although the terror threat level has not been changed from the second-highest "severe" rating.

It has emerged Iraqi intelligence warned countries in the US-led coalition against IS, including France, of an imminent assault the day before the Paris attacks.