A veteran Northern Irish punk band defied safety concerns to perform in trouble-hit Paris, telling the crowd: “The world has their hearts with you.”

Belfast four-piece Stiff Little Fingers, who rose to prominence during the late 1970s, said it seemed like “the thing to do” to continue with the gig as planned.

They previously said their experience of the Troubles and bands not coming to their native Belfast during the conflict prompted their decision to carry on with the show.

Stiff Little Fingers perform at the Back of the Mill venue in Paris, having opted to continue with the gig as planned following the terrorist attacks on Friday evening.
(Steve Parsons/PA)

Addressing the crowd at Back Of The Mill next to the Moulin Rouge, frontman Jake Burns said: “Thank you so much for coming out. It’s an absolute pleasure to be in Paris this evening.

“We’re just going to play a normal show, it seems like the thing to do – I hope you agree.”

He added: “Obviously everybody in the world knows what happened in Paris on Friday night.

“And everyone in the world has their hearts with you.”

The audience shows its appreciation as Stiff Little Fingers perform at the Back of the Mill venue in Paris, having opted to continue with the gig as planned following the terrorist attacks on Friday evening.
(Steve Parsons/PA)

Rock superstars U2 were among those to cancel high-profile gigs in Paris following Friday’s terrorist attacks, which saw at least 129 killed and hundreds more injured.

The bloodiest attack came at the Bataclan theatre, where American rockers Eagles of Death Metal were performing when gunmen stormed the venue.

Tonight’s gig saw the band walk onstage with black tape around their left arms, while guitarist Ian McCallum wore a shirt emblazoned with the city’s name.

They launched into opener Nobody’s Hero, prompting a moshpit comprising veteran gig-goers.

Stiff Little Fingers perform at the Back of the Mill venue in Paris, having opted to continue with the gig as planned following the terrorist attacks on Friday evening.
(Steve Parsons/PA)

English businessman Edward Marten, originally from Somerset but now a gold leaf salesman based in Florence, Italy, praised the band for fulfilling their commitment to play the show in spite of the recent security threats.

He said: “I’m not scared being here, no. I have liked this band since 1979. I come to Paris for work but I usually time it when there are gigs in town I like.

“Well done to them for coming here at this time. Others wouldn’t.”