Paris attacks: At least 140 people were killed in multiple attacks across the French capital
A string of coordinated attacks in and around Paris late on Friday left scores of people dead in the worst such violence in France’s history. (Indian embassy in France helpline number: 0033140507070)
The assailants struck at least six different venues, ranging from the national sports stadium to a pizzeria. Their accomplices may still be on the loose, a prosecutor said.
The death toll – 129 as of early Saturday is expected to rise. More than 352 people are injured out of which 99 are critical.
More Evidence:
French police on Sunday found the second vehicle used to ferry the gunmen along with the ammunitions to carry out the deadly attacks in Paris. More details awaited.
This is the moment Belgian police swooped on a suspect in connection to the Paris terror attack (courtesy: RTL) https://t.co/MkLlNlP7rH
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 15, 2015
Attacker ID’ed By French Police:
French police have identified one of the gunmen who blew himself up at the Bataclan concert hall, the scene of the bloodiest attack where 89 people were killed, as 29-year-old Paris native Omar Ismail Mostefai.
His father and 34-year-old brother have been taken into custody by police and a source close to the probe said investigators are now searching the homes of other friends and relatives of the killer.
Mostefai, whose identity was confirmed using a severed fingertip, was known as being close to radical Islam, but had never been linked to terrorism.
Police said the attackers appeared to be “seasoned, at first sight, and well trained” and were investigating whether they had ever been to fight in Syria, where IS has proclaimed a caliphate along with territory in neighbouring Iraq.
Raids in Brussels
Belgian police on Saturday raided a neighbourhood of the capital Brussels in connection with the deadly attacks in Paris, public television RTBF reported.
ALSO READ: Paris Attack: Belgian Police Raids Brussels Suburb, Several Arrested
Three of the eight attackers who killed 127 people in Paris on Friday night are believed to have come from the Brussels neighbourhood raided by police this afternoon.
Police Detain Frenchman With Gun At Gatwick
A 41-year-old man from France is being questioned by police after “what appears to be a firearm” was discovered at Gatwick Airport, Sussex Police said.
ALSO READ: Frenchman Arrested, Airport Evacuated After Gatwick Firearms Scare
French Bound Plane Grounded In Amsterdam
Flight AF1741 from Amsterdam to Paris was grounded after a social media user made an ominous threat of an attack similar to the Sinai air disaster. The plane has beeen evacuated and search operation is going on, Dutch media reported.
Meanwhile Police arrested a Frenchman at London’s Gatwick Airport. Media reported that person was carrying firearms. Investigation going on…
Situation Critical- Death Toll May Rise :
According to French media, at least 80 people who suffered injuries during the terror attacks are said to be in critical condition.
Meanwhile reports also added that few foreign nationals are among the deceased. However Govt is yet to issue a statement in this regard.
A US State Department spokesman has said the government believes American citizens are among the injured in the Paris terror attacks.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the country “must be prepared for British casualties”.
The Breakthrough Revelation :
UK based The Guardian reported, quoting French newspaper Libération, that one of the terrorists involved in Bataclan shooting has been confirmed as a French extremist who was known to police.
It also reported that an Egyptian and Syrian passports was found on one of the attackers involved in the Stade de France terror strike. However Authorities have not revealed their identities yet.
ISIS Claims Responsibility For Paris Attacks
In the statement, released in French, Islamic State said “soldiers of Caliphate” had targeted ‘the capital of abomination and perversion’ and said that ‘France was its top target’.
“Eight brothers carrying explosive belts and guns targeted areas in the heart of the French capital that were specifically chosen in advance: the Stade de France during a match against Germany which that imbecile François Hollande was attending; the Bataclan where hundreds of idolaters were together in a party of perversity as well as other targets in the 10th, 11th and 18th arrondissement.France and those who follow its path must know that they remain the principle targets of the Islamic State’ The statement reads, originally circulated in French reads.
The statement adds that the attacks are in response to insults directed at the prophet Muhammad, as well as airstrikes by France on Islamic State-held territory.
“…having dared insult our prophet, having bragged about fighting Islam in France and striking Muslims in the Caliphate with their planes which have not helped them in any way in the ill-smelling streets of Paris”.
“This attack is just the start of a storm and a warning for those who wish to draw lessons” concludes the statement.
France Blames ISIS, Vows ‘Merciless’ Response
French President Francois Hollande blamed ISIS for orchestrating the worst attacks on the country’s soil since World War II and vowed for ‘merciless’ response to the preparators.
“These cowardly attacks will not break France, we will emerge more stronger against this heinous ‘act of war’” French President said as reported by foreign media.
Declaring three days of mourning in the country, President Hollande vowed to be “merciless” with the nation’s foes.
“We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace … France is strong and even if she is wounded she will get up always and nothing will hold her down, even if we are feeling the grief now … We will defend ourselves.” he added.
Attackers Killed
A total of eight militants were killed, including seven by their suicide belts. Four of the attackers were killed in the Bataclan concert hall, three by activating their suicide vests and one shot by police. Three more died near the national stadium and a fourth was killed in a street in eastern Paris.
Bataclan concert hall
Around 1,500 people were packed into the popular venue in eastern Paris for a concert by the US band Eagles of Death Metal. Attack happened about an hour after the band took to the stage. Black-clad gunmen wielding AK-47s stormed into the hall and fired calmly and methodically at hundreds of screaming concert-goers.
Eye Witness Account:
An eyewitness said he heard an attacker say, “It’s the fault of Hollande, it’s the fault of your president, he should not have intervened in Syria.”
Four assailants were killed after police stormed in – three by activating their suicide vests and a fourth shot dead – but not before they had mown down more than 140 people.
Two explosions were heard near the national football stadium Stade de France where a France-Germany friendly soccer match was being played, attended by French President Francois Hollande.
Stade de France
Three loud explosions were heard outside France’s national stadium during the first half of a friendly international football match between France and Germany.
At least five people died outside the venue which staged the 1998 World Cup final with several others seriously hurt. French President Francois Hollande, who was watching the game, was immediately evacuated.
The match was eventually completed and the stadium emptied in a relatively calm atmosphere.
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Rushing back to the Interior Ministry from Stade de France, Hollande condemned the “unprecedented terrorist attacks”.
Rue Bichat
A Cambodian restaurant on Paris’ Rue Bichat was the scene of another attack. Gunmen opened fire at people inside the Petit Cambodge restaurant.
Rue de la Fontaine au Roi
A few hundred metres from the Bataclan, the terrace of the Casa Nostra pizzeria was targeted. Five people were killed by attackers wielding automatic rifles, according to reports.
Rue de Charonne
On Rue de Charonne 18 people were killed, with one witness saying a Japanese restaurant was the main target.
Boulevard Voltaire
Sources said one of the attackers exploded his suicide vest on the Boulevard Voltaire, near the Bataclan. It is not yet known if there were any injuries from the explosion.
WATCH VIDEO:
State Of Emergency
In a brief statement on television, the French president declared a state of emergency across the country and the borders were to be closed.
“Some places will be closed, traffic will be banned and searches may be conducted throughout the Ile-de-France,” he said, adding about 1,500 military reinforcements have been deployed “to ensure that no other attack can take place”.
In addition, the capital schools and universities will be closed on Saturday.
ISIS Behind Attacks!
Though it has not officially taken responsibility for it, the supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group appear to be celebrating the attacks in Paris on Twitter. On Twitter, one of the main hashtags about the attacks, #ParisIsBurning, seems to have been co-opted by ISIS supporters, who are using the Arabic translation, #باريس_تشتعل., which roughly translates to Paris in flames or Paris ignites.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Paris attacks, but according to the news channel BFMTV, the terrorists shouted “It’s for Syria”.
The likely coordinated attacks came as France, a member of the US-led coalition combating the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq, struck the group’s strategic targets this week.
On high alert for terrorist attacks, the French government raised the anti-terrorism alert to maximum and additional thousands of security forces have been poured across the country to protect sensitive sites.
Hollande, who cancelled his participation at the G20 summit, will head a defense meeting on Saturday morning after the deadly attacks has shaken the country’s security policy ahead of the high-profile international conference on climate scheduled for the end of this month.
World Condemns Attacks
Meanwhile, the international community has strongly condemned the attacks on the French capital.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned “the despicable terrorist attacks carried out today in various locations in and around Paris”.
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday said he was “deeply shocked” by the deadly attacks in Paris, offering “thoughts and prayers” to the French people.
“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,” Cameron said via his Twitter account.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday evening that she was deeply shocked by the attacks in Paris and declared solidarity with France.
US President Barack Obama on Friday condemned the deadly attacks currently still unfolding in Paris and said it was too early to determine who was behind those attacks.
Calling the attacks in and around Paris on Friday evening “an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians,” Obama said the US stood ready to provide assistance for the French government.
He also said US officials were “in contact with French counterparts to communicate condolences to families of the victims”.
(Infogfx: Deepak Saluja)