[EU News] Paris Attacks Kill More Than 100, Police Say [MASS POST]

[lioneatszebra]

Paris Attacks Kill More Than 100, Police Say; Border Controls Tightened
from The New York Time

The Paris area reeled Friday night from a shooting rampage, explosions and mass hostage-taking that President François Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack on France. He announced sharply increased border controls and mobilized the military in a national emergency.

French television and news services quoted the police as saying around 100 people had been killed at a concert venue where hostages had been taken in a two-hour standoff with the police, and perhaps many more killed in apparently coordinated attacks outside the country’s main sports stadium and at least five other popular locations in the city. But estimates on the total number of dead varied widely in the confusion.

Witnesses on French television said the scene at the concert hall, which can seat as many as 1,500 people, was a massacre. Ambulances were seen racing back and forth in the area into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The casualties eclipsed the deaths and mayhem that roiled Paris in the Charlie Hebdo massacre and related assaults around the French capital by Islamic militant extremists less than a year ago.

An explosion near the sports stadium, which French news services said may have been a suicide bombing, came as Germany and France were playing a soccer match, forcing a hasty evacuation of Mr. Hollande. As the scope of the assaults quickly became clear, he convened an emergency cabinet meeting and announced that France was placing severe restrictions on its border crossings.

“As I speak, terrorist attacks of an unprecedented scale are taking place in the Paris region,” he said in a nationally televised address. “There are several dozen dead, lots more wounded, it’s horrific.”

Mr. Hollande said that on his orders the government had “mobilized all the forces we can muster to neutralize the threats and secure all of the areas.”

President Obama in Washington came to the White House Briefing room to express solidarity and offer aid and condolences. “Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians,” he said. “This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Twitter erupted with celebratory messages by members and sympathizers of the Islamic State, the extremist group based in Syria and Iraq that is under assault by major powers including the United States, France and Russia.

The main shooting appeared to have broken out at a popular music venue, The Bataclan, where the American band Eagles of Death Metal was among those playing, and French news services said as many as 100 hostages may have been taken there â€" many of whom apparently were killed later. Some accounts said grenades had been lobbed inside the music hall.

A witness quoted by BFM television said he heard rounds of automatic rifle fire and someone shouting “Allahu akbar!” at The Bataclan.

Another witness who escaped the concert hall told BFM: “When they started shooting we just saw flashes. People got down on the ground right away.”

The police ordered bystanders in the that area to get off the streets as officers mobilized, French television reported.

Other French news media reported that Kalashnikov rifles had been involved in the shootings â€" a favored weapon of militants who have attacked targets in France â€" and that many rounds had been fired.

Police sirens sounded throughout central Paris on Friday night.

[lioneatszebra]

The Attacks in Paris: What Happened at Each Location

French television and news services reported that dozens of people were killed and many more wounded in multiple attacks across Paris on Friday night. Here are the locations of the attacks that were confirmed as of 12 a.m. Paris time.



Shootings and Hostages Taken at Concert Hall

The most deaths appear to have occurred at The Bataclan, a popular concert venue. At approximately 9:30 p.m., several armed individuals entered and began shooting for about 10 minutes. At around 10 p.m., the gunmen began taking hostages.



Shooting at Restaurant

The police said that shootings occurred in a crowded restaurant in the 10th Arrondissement.



Another Restaurant Shooting

Gunmen aimed at a bar at the corner of Rue de Charonne and Rue Faidherbe, killing about a dozen, according to French television.

Explosions Outside a Bar Near Stadium

At least two explosions were heard outside the Stade de France, the country’s main sports stadium during a France-Germany soccer match, according to The Associated Press.

[lioneatszebra]

What has happened?

There have been six shooting incidents in Paris in what appears to be a co-ordinated terrorist attack by up to 12 gunmen.

At least three terrorists took more than 100 people hostage in a hall where a music concert was being held, before they began randomly killing innocent people. They had time to reload their weapons at least three times during the attack. Five explosions were heard when police stormed the venue. The Prefecture of Paris said the attackers were wearing explosive vests and detonated them during a police assault on the venue. Three terrorists were killed, as police took control of the hall.

Shooting has also been reported in les Halles in the centre of Paris, and in a restaurant by Bastille in rue de Charonne, with "many dead", including children, according to eyewitnesses. Further incidents have been reported at Le Pompidou and Louvre.

A French police official confirmed there were two suicide attacks and one bombing near Paris' main stadium.

A Paris prosecutor said there could be five gunmen killed across the capital, with more still at large.

Casualties

At least 140 people have died, according to city officials, with many more wounded. At least 118 people were killed in the concert hall, four of whom were policemen. AFP claimed four people had died at Stade de France, including three terrorists.

Who are the gunmen?

This is unknown at present as the situation is still developing. However, those responsible are believed to have been dressed in black and used Kalashnikovs and hand grenades. The deputy mayor of Paris says it is too early to conclude that attacks are coordinated acts of terror but it "looks that way".

According to French channel BFMTV, one of the gunmen at Bataclan shouted: "It's for Syria" and "Allahu Akbar". There were also reports the attackers mentioned France's military actions in Syria.

Reaction?

Emergency services are attending all scenes, while Special Forces were deployed to the hostage situation at the Bataclan. 200 soldiers are being sent to 11 and 10 arrondissements.

The Army has also been called in, with 1,500 soldiers deployed in the French capital:

The President and Home Minister held an emergency meeting before Hollande travelled to the Bataclan, where 100 people died. He has declared a state of emergency in the whole of France - the first time since 1958 - and imposed border control. The Paris Metro is shut.

Hollande has cancelled his trip to the G20 meeting in Turkey this weekend to remain in France.

Belgium has imposed frontier controls on road, rail and air arrivals from France, a spokesman for Prime Minister Charles Michel said.

Prime Minister David Cameron has tweeted his condolences.

David Cameron  | @David_Cameron
I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.

As has Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Jeremy Corbyn MP  | @jeremycorbyn
My thoughts are with the people of Paris tonight. We stand in solidarity with the French. Such acts are heinous and immoral.

And Chancellor George Osborne.

George Osborne | @George_Osborne
Appalled by events in Paris. We stand with the French people tonight. Terrorism will never defeat our shared way of life

And Hillary Clinton in the US.

Hillary Clinton | @HillaryClinton
The reports from Paris are harrowing. Praying for the city and families of the victims. -H

US officials say they are monitoring the attacks in Paris and President Barack Obama has been briefed. The US President said: "Once again we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize ordinary citizens... France is our oldest ally. We stand together with them."

Angela Merkel has pledged German help for France, saying she is "deeply appalled" by the attacks.

Ban Ki-moon, the head of the UN, has released the following statement.

"The Secretary-General condemns the despicable terrorist attacks carried out today in various locations in and around Paris. He demands the immediate release of the numerous individuals reportedly being held hostage in the Bataclan theatre. The Secretary-General trusts that the French authorities will do all in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly. The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. He stands with the Government and people of France."

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy:

"Faced with these terrorist attacks of an exceptional severity, my first thoughts go to the victims of these acts of barbarity. And also to their families and loved ones and the security forces, who have shown exemplary courage.

"In these tragic circumstances, the solidarity among all of France is needed.

"It's in this spirit that I support the decision taken this evening to declare a state of emergency and close the borders. The terrorists have declared war on France. Our response should be to show strength and determination throughout."

[lioneatszebra]

[iLaxrv10]

Absolutely horrid, unbelievable to think that people have no respect for others. Im really saddened by the events tonight, thanks for the updates djk

[SuperJK]

All of ISIL's fault I hate em the Lindt cafè seige took the whole place 3 months to repaired all cuz of stupid land aka ISIL and im auddie and dis happened last year           

[Mudkipzstar123]

R.I.P. Everyone who died in the "Friday the 13th" terrorist attack in Paris 😖😖

All we can do now is pray it's over