Bali Nine executions: Reaction as Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran face firing squad in Indonesia

UPDATE: AUSTRALIANS including top politicians have expressed their anger and grief after Indonesia executed the Bali Nine pair this morning.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: A woman places a candle on top of a picture of Australian Andrew Chan, one of one of the prisoners to be executed in Indonesia, during a vigil at Martin Place on April 28, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Supporters of Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran held a vigil tonight as the pair prepare to face the firing squad this evening at Indonesia's Nusakambangan Island. Chan and Sukumaran were both sentenced to death after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin valued at around $4 million from Indonesia to Australia along with 7 other accomplices. (Photo by Daniel Munoz/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIANS have turned to social media to express their grief over the executions of the Bali Nine pair.

Vigils were held overnight in major cities and the hashtag #istandformercy was trending in Australia all morning.

Sir Richard Branson added his voice to the social media backlash, tweeting: “Executions won’t impact the drug trade in Indonesia. The death penalty is not the answer to deal with drug abuse.”

While Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was among Australia’s politicians to issue strongly worded statements on Twitter.

Below is a collection of social media posts from key locations around Australia, plus from Cilicap and Nusa Kambangan Island in Indonesia where Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran spent their final hours.

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Originally published as Bali Nine executions: Reaction as Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran face firing squad in Indonesia