State of Emergency declared following multiple attacks in French capital
More than 120 people have died and hundreds more injured following a series of bomb and gun attacks across Paris last night. The dead toll is expected to rise today as the enormity of the outrage becomes clearer.
Four restaurants, a concert venue and the Stade de France national football stadium all came under attack in an evening of horror. So far, no group has claimed responsibility but there is strong eyewitness evidence to suggest that Islamic extremists were responsible for the atrocities.
The deadliest attack took place at the Bataclan concert venue when gunmen opened fire during a gig by rock group Eagles of Death Metal – the 1,500-seat venue was sold out. It’s believed that up to eighty people died in a shootout as security forces acted to end a hostage situation.
President Hollande was attending the friendly match between France and Germany at the Stade de France stadium, which was being broadcast on TF1, one of the country’s main TV channels. The game was abandoned when two explosions were heard – at least one of which is now known to have been a suicide bomber.
Police say all eight gunmen involved in the Paris attacks are now dead but the country’s security forces remains on full alert. Four were killed in the Bataclan concert hall, three by activating suicide vests and one shot by police. Three more died near the national stadium and a fourth was killed in a Paris street.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “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.”
President Obama called the attacks in Paris an “outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians” and an “attack on all of humanity”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “deeply shaken by the news and pictures that are reaching us from Paris”.