David Cameron: Britain will do 'all in our power' to support France in fight against Islamic State

Britain will do "all in our power" to support France in the fight against so-called Islamic State following the Paris terror attacks, David Cameron has vowed.

Speaking after talks with president Francois Hollande, Mr Cameron said he would set out his "comprehensive strategy" for targeting IS in Syria later this week as he attempts to gather parliamentary support for extending air strikes into the war-torn country.

"The United Kingdom will do all in our power to support our friend and ally France to defeat this evil death cult," the prime minister said.

The two leaders also announced that France and the UK would improve intelligence-sharing and work more closely with their European allies to tackle the "shared threat" from Islamist extremism.

Mr Cameron said it was his "firm conviction" that Britain needed to join France in launching air strikes against militants in Syria.

"I firmly support the action that President Hollande has taken to strike Isil in Syria and it is my firm conviction that Britain should do so too," he said.

He added: "It is clear that the world is coming together to tackle this evil terrorist threat. We have shown our firm resolve and together we will defeat this evil threat."

Mr Cameron ended the press conference by saying: "Nous sommes solidaires avec vous [We are united with you]."

In other developments:

  • The prime minister offered the French air force the use of RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus to mount strikes on IS

  • Francois Hollande said France will "intensify" air strikes in Syria to "yield the best possible damage against the terrorist army"

  • Mr Cameron said the threat of returning IS fighters needed to be tackled as he called for stronger EU borders

Mr Cameron and Mr Hollande earlier visited the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people were murdered during the terror attacks on November 13.

David Cameron and Francois Hollande outside the Bataclan Cafe in Paris. Credit: PA Wire

Meanwhile, Belgian police have arrested 16 people following counter-terror raids in Brussels.

Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris attacks, was not among them and remains at large, prosecutors said.

The country remains in lockdown with schools, universities and underground stations closed amid fears of a Paris-style attack.