The French President Francois Hollande has spoken out about the horrific attacks in Paris last night saying that the near-simultaneous attacks that killed nearly 130 people were an ‘act of war’ by the Islamic State group.
He added that the attacks were carried out by eight gunmen and suicide bombers who were organised and that the planning came from outside the country. Targets included bars, restaurants, a concert and even a high profile football match and have been claimed by the militant group.
The president has instituted three days of national mourning and also raised the security threat level to its highest point, declaring a nationwide state of emergency. The attacks also wounded some 180 people, of which 80 of those are in critical condition.
Deadly attacks
The attacks were the deadliest in peacetime France and only the fourth time since the end of the World War II that a state of emergency has been put into place, the last time being during the 2005 wave of riots. It is also the worst atrocity in Europe since the bombing in Madrid in 2004.
The attacks began around 21:00 local time as people were enjoying their Friday night around the city. A gunman opening fire on the La Carillion bar on the rue Albert, near to the Place de la Republique and then headed across to Le Petit Cambodge, where he killed at least 12 people.
A local resident said he heard the sound of guns in short, 30 second bursts but at first thought they were fireworks.
Five people died a few streets away at La Casa Nostra pizzeria on the rue de la Fountaine au Roi when another gunman opened fire. At the same time on the outskirts of the city, 80,000 people who had gathered to watch the football match between Germany and France at the Stade de France heard three explosions outside.
President Hollande was himself one of the spectators and was quickly take to safety. It later emerged that three suicide bombers had detonated their bombs at food outlets as well as a brasserie near the stadium. A Syrian passport was found on one of the bombers.
Theatre deaths
The most deadly single attack came at the 1500 seat Bataclan concert hall when gunmen opened fire at a sold-out gig by the US rock group Eagles of Death Metal, murdering at least 80 people. One radio presenter at the gig told reporters that at first they thought it was part of the show then the firing didn’t stop and there was blood everywhere, with screaming and people trying to flee.
The gunman took twenty hostages and was heard to tell them that it was President Hollande’s fault that ‘he should not have intervened in Syria’. Within the hour, security forces stormed the hall and the four attackers were dead, three blowing themselves up and the fourth being shot by police.
IS released a statement on Saturday claiming responsibility for the act in response to France’s involvement in the air strikes on IS militants in Syria and Iraq. The president had already described the act as attacking the country in a ‘cowardly shameful and violent way’.
Many municipal buildings and Disneyland Paris have been closed while sports events are cancelled and no large gatherings are allowed for the next five days.
