The symbolic #JeSuisCharlie hashtag, which has recently appeared on social media to express solidarity with the Charlie Hebdo magazine in the aftermath of the fatal shootings, has gathered over 5 million retweets, Twitter France said.

The now famous hashtag #JeSuisCharlie (“I am Charlie”) reached 5,044,740 tweets by Friday evening and peaked at 6,300 tweets a minute.

The Philippines twitter world also joined the world in tweeting the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie as seen on this interactive map.

The phrase is in reference to the Charlie Hebdo magazine where 12 people were slaughtered when Islamist terrorists stormed their offices in Paris on Wednesday sparking a series of attacks lasting three days.

It became an instant hit among supporters of freedom of expression and free speech to unite alongside the victims of the attack.