 |
| At least 60 people have been killed in Paris |
Those dead include more than a hundred people who had been held hostage in the Bataclan Theatre in the French capital.
They were slaughtered inside the building before police closed in on the gunmen.
The terrorists, who had earlier sprayed gunfire on cafes before entering the venue, then blew themselves up with suicide belts.
As many as 18 people died when the terrace of the Rue de Charonne was sprayed with gunfire, while around 14 people were killed when Le Carillon bar-cafe, and the nearby Cambodian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge, were also shot at.
Eight attackers died, including seven in suicide bombings, but the city's prosecutor said it is possible there are still terrorists on the run.
Security has been stepped up and border control checks re-imposed after the attacks, which President Francois Hollande described as an "abomination".
It is understood to be the deadliest night of violence in Paris since the Second World War.
 |
| Map of where the attacks have taken place |
The Prince of Wales is to send Mr Hollande a message of "profound sympathy and solidarity with the people of Paris", a Clarence House spokeswoman said
The Foreign Office said it was in "close touch" with the French authorities and it was "urgently investigating" whether there were any British victims.
But Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee today following the attacks.
President Francois Hollande described the events as "terror attacks on an unprecedented level".
During a visit to the theatre in the early hours Mr Hollande, who has cancelled his trip to the G-20 meeting in Turkey, said the country will be "merciless" against those who have attacked them.
He said: ”We will lead the fight. We will be merciless.”
Gunmen in the theatre reportedly shouted “it's for Syria" and "Allah Akbar" inside the venue, but there has been no official comment on the motive.
The rock band Eagles of Death Metal were performing a sold-out concert at the theatre.
The bandmates – who include Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age – were among those who were being held hostages but reports suggest they are now safe.
An unverified Facebook post wrote of the terrorists siege: "There are still survivors inside the Bataclan. They're killing everyone one-by-one."
Automatic gunfire was heard outside the theatre where the hostages were being held.
Images on social media showed two men being ushered away from the theatre with blood clearly visible on their shirts.
 |
| Forensics teams assess the damage at the French bar where 40 were killed |
 |
| Hollande spoke near the concert hall where around 120 were said to have been killed |
Media have reported up to 215 people have also been injured with scores of them critical.
Paris is in lockdown as President Hollande has declared a state of emergency, closing the country's borders.
He said: "France must be strong in the face of terrorism."
"Terrorist attacks are taking place in Paris. It's a horror. We have mobilised all possible forces."
A cabinet meeting will take place shortly and the French army has been mobilised. Up to 1,500 soldiers are being sent to the capital.
Deputy mayor of Paris Patrick Klugman said: "We are facing an unknown and historic situation in Paris."
The UK Foreign Office has warned Britons in the French capital to "exercise caution" in the wake of the attacks.
Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly was said to have been in the restaurant where the shooting took place. However, he is understood to be safe.
A shocked eyewitness known only as Louis told French media about the restaurant shooting: "The men came in and started shooting. Everyone fell to the ground. It was hell.
"I took my mum, and we hid. Someone near us said they have gone, so we ran out. I was only thinking of escaping.
"We're out now. I think people are still inside. It's a nightmare - a nightmare."
Eyewitness Ben Grant said he was in a bar with his wife when the gunshots were fired and he had seen six or seven bodies on the ground.
He said: "I was told people in cars had opened fire on the bar. There are lots of dead people. It's pretty horrific to be honest.
"I was at the back of the bar. I couldn't see anything. I heard gunshots. People dropped to the ground. We put a table over our heads to protect us.
"We were held up in the bar because there was a pile of bodies in front of us."
There was also been an explosion in a bar near the Stade de France when an international football match between France and Germany were taking place.
This is understood to be a suicide bombing.
A separate suicide bombing was carried out around a minute later near the stadium in the north of Paris.
Three people are said to have been killed in the explosions.
Mr Hollande was at the stadium during the time of the explosion and was quickly escorted away.
An official said the explosions were loud enough to penetrate the sounds of cheering fans.
Sirens were then immediately heard, and a helicopter was circling overhead.
Witness Fabien Baron said: "I was on my way to my sister's when I heard shots being fired.
"Then I saw three people dead on the ground, I know they were dead because they were being wrapped up in plastic bags."
 |
| Fans heard two explosions nearby to the stadium |
There are also unconfirmed reports of shootings at the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou and the Les Halles district.
Former unconfirmed reports suggested The Jungle migrant camp in Calais had been set on fire.
Islamic State jihadis on Twitter have been seen celebrating the attacks.
Paris schools, museums, libraries, gyms, swimming pools and markets will reportedly close on Saturday.
Reports have also emerged that a former Charlie Hebdo writer who was caught up in the terror attack at the satirical magazine in January was among the first at the scene to help victims.
 |
| President Hollande said it was a night of 'unprecedented terror' |
BREAKING: Eiffel Tower has gone dark - @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/g4MGaMjXJZ
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) November 14, 2015
 |
| Survivors are ushered away from the scene of the restaurant attack |
 |
| Injured people from the restaurant shooting are carried into ambulances |
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus