Journalists and police officers in Norfolk and Suffolk fell silent today as they joined their colleagues around the world in paying tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attack.

The Police Federation, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called on their members to join in a minute's silence or a two-minute silence this morning.

Officers at both Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies paused in 'solidarity sympathy' as they held a silence in memory of those murdered in the shootings at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, where suspected Islamists killed two police officers and 10 journalists.

Archant editorial staff, who write for the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News, also held a minute's silence at publisher Archant's headquarters in Norwich, and were joined by their colleagues working in district offices across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Ahead of the minute's silence, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: 'The NUJ, together with journalists and their unions around the world, has condemned this attack as an attempt to gag press freedom and attack the entire profession. Please join us all in stopping work for one minute to pay our collective respects to colleagues who have paid the ultimate price in carrying out their work.'

Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: 'Recent weeks have seen a shocking number of incidents in the UK but also internationally in which officers have been either killed or seriously injured.

'Yesterday's events in Paris serve as a stark reminder of the impact these violent acts and the ongoing threats of terrorism have on the police family and in particular on those officers who often bear the brunt in order to protect the public. It also demonstrated that the global community and the police service will not let the terrorists win.'

Acpo vice president and Greater Manchester chief constable Sir Peter Fahy said: 'All members of the British police forces are shocked at the savagery of this attack.

'In any democratic society it is the role of the police to protect basic human rights and our two French colleagues died protecting free speech. They knew the risks they were facing in carrying out their duty and clearly showed great bravery in trying to prevent the terrorists murdering others.

'We stand in solidarity and express our great sympathy for their families and friends.

'We have to stand together against this threat and we cannot be naive or complacent about how extremist ideologies seek to justify this complete disrespect for human life and for the values which ensure the freedom and welfare of all citizens.

'We need the continued co-operation and support of the public to meet this threat but all members of British policing will be even more determined to face up to that very threat.'