Madonna has staged an impromptu mini-concert at the Place de la République in Paris, the site of massed tributes for the victims of the 13 November attacks.

Following a sell-out concert on Wednesday evening at the Bercy arena in the French capital as part of her Rebel Heart tour, the singer tweeted that she was heading to the square for an aftershow appearance.

Madonna told onlookers: “Everybody knows why we’re here … we just want to sing a few songs about peace, just to spread love and joy, and to pay our honour and respect to the people who died almost four weeks ago.

“And to spread light … we all need it.”

Earlier on Wednesday evening at the Bercy arena, the singer wrapped herself in the French tricolour to sing La Marseillaise.

She told concert-goers: “We will not bend down to fear! I think of what happened almost four weeks ago now. The heart of Paris and the heart of France beats in the heart of each city.

“I came here when I was 20 and it was here, in Paris, that I decided to make music. Thank you Paris for planting that seed in my heart!”

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