HERALD DE PARIS
The city of Paris, France is under siege Friday night, as a series of attacks took place at multiple locations all over the city.
A series of attacks targeting young concert-goers and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots killed as many as 120 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II.
The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting an American rock band, where scores of people were held hostage and attackers hurled explosives at their captives. Police who stormed the building, killing three attackers, encountered a bloody scene of horror inside.
Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said as many as five attackers may have been killed, though it was not clear how many there were altogether and how many were still at large. Authorities said the death toll at the six sites could exceed 120.
In addition to the deaths at the concert hall, a police official said 11 people were killed in a Paris restaurant in the 10th arrondissement and other officials said at least three people died when bombs went off outside a stadium.
Read more at the Associated Press
President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency and closed the French borders. He called for France to “show unity and cold blood.”
American President Barack Obama stressed that the United States is “prepared and ready” to provide assistance to France. “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 we share,” he said.
Management for the Eagles of Death Metal, the American band scheduled to play at the Bataclan, where concert goers were held hostage and at least 100 people were killed, say they are “trying to determine the safety and whereabouts” of the band and its crew.
UPDATE: All members of the band have been located and are safe.
“This is a heart-breaking situation, and obviously those of us here in the United States know what it’s like. We’ve gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves, and whenever these kinds of attacks happen, we’ve always been able to count on the French people to stand with us,” Obama said. “They have been an extraordinary counter-terrorism partner, and we intend to bear with them in that same fashion.”
Rock band, U2 has cancelled a concert scheduled for Saturday night. U2 members say: “We hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe.” The concert was to air live on HBO. The network will replace the show with the film, Jersey Boys.
The Eiffel Tower, the monument that symbolizes Paris for people around the world, turned off its lights in memoriam of the terror victims.
