The lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris were switched off on Wednesday night to show support for the people of the shattered Syrian city of Aleppo.

 The monument was plunged into darkness from 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) in what Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said was a protest at the “unbearable” situation for civilians in the city where fighting raged during the day.

The light displays of the Eiffel Tower have been used before to stand in solidarity with others around the world. The Parisian landmark lit up in rainbow colors as a tribute to the victims of the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando in June, and in the colors of the Belgian flag following the Brussels attacks in March. It also went dark in honor of the victims of attacks in Paris in January and November last year.

Several hundred people demonstrated in Paris on Wednesday in support of Aleppo’s residents, according to local reports.

Some of the protesters wore a piece of red clothing to symbolise the blood spilled in the fierce battle for Syria’s second city.

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