French president announces up to 2,000 new anti-terror jobs

French President Francois Hollande has announced the creation of 2,000 new security jobs, in order to "strengthen the force" of the anti-terror fight.

Speaking to police and security forces on Thursday morning - the first anniversary of al-Qaeda attacks on Charlie Hebdo journalists in Paris - the president talked of success in fighting another extremist organisation, the Islamic State group [IS], and dismantling terrorist cells within France.

However, Hollande said a "terrorist threat" will continue to weigh on the country as France as people mark the 2015 attacks that killed 12 people - including eight journalists - working at the controversial magazine Charlie Hebdo.

On the same day France marked the anniversary of the attack, officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man wearing a fake explosive vest at a police station in northern Paris on Thursday.

It highlighted the continued tensions and fears in the country.

France's fight a year on

The attacks on the offices of Charlie Hebdo were said to be in response to its publishing of images of the Prophet Muhammad - including the highly controversial November 2011 cover which renamed the magazine "Sharia Hebdo".

Although there are no official memorials set to take place a plaque was unveiled outside the magazine's offices on Tuesday.

The editor of Charlie Hebdo, Laurent Sourisseau, spoke defiantly and in defence of the magazine's actions.

"We're not going to let little balaclava-clad scumbags ruin a lifetime's work," said Sourisseau.

We're not going to let little balaclava-clad scumbags ruin a lifetime's work - Editor, Charlie Hebdo

Another was erected to honour Ahmed Merabet, one of two French police officers killed as the attackers fled.

Alongside, the phrase "Je Suis Ahmed" was written in the colours of the French flag, shadowing the phrase "Je Suis Charlie" which was used widely on social media to show solidarity after the attacks.

Hollande recognised the officers who died, saying that they gave their lives "so that we can live free".

The French leader also said that since the attack on Charlie Hebdo, nearly 200 people in France had been placed under travel restrictions to prevent them from joining up with IS in Syria or Iraq.

France has stepped up its bombing against the militants since another devastating attack in Paris by IS-inspired extremists.

On Sunday, commemorations will conclude with a ceremony in the Place de la Republique which became a central location for Parisians to show solidarity in the face of the terror attacks. A 10-metre "remembrance tree" will be planted.