Dublin - The citizens across Europe commemorated the horrific terrorist attack in Madrid with three minutes of silence on Monday, a remembrance at the behest of the European Union.
Traffic came to a halt and public transport ceased operating in many capitals and cities in Europe. People stopped in the middle of streets and shopping centres in commemoration of those killed and injured in last Thursday's attacks.
The memorial was called by Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland, the country currently holding the EU rotating presidency.
London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's largest airport, fell quiet, and Poland ceased all operations along its borders at the appointed time, 11am.
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In France, the usual commotion at the Louvre museum was interrupted by minutes of total silence, and the top department store, Galeries Lafayette, asked shoppers to pause in an announcement made in four languages.
In Berlin, hundreds of Spanish nationals gathered in front of the Spanish embassy to mark the moment and leave flowers at the entrance. People across the continent continued to sign condolence books.
All television channels in Italy interrupted their programmes to show pictures of the attack, and businesses and factories in countries across the continent paused as a mark of respect.
European governments and public offices also joined the silence and more than 1 000 citizens and employees of EU institutions, among them Commission President Romano Prodi, gathered on Brussels' Schuman Square.
In Rome, Pope John Paul II marked the silence and prayed for the victims, the Vatican said.
However, in many communities life went on as normal, with residents telling reporters they were unaware of the planned pause. - Sapa-dpa
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