The death toll from the city-wide gun and bomb attacks in Paris has risen to 129, Paris’ prosecutor said on Saturday.
Following the attacks, French President François Hollande issued a state of emergency and announced via a televised address that the military has been deployed across Paris, putting the city on complete lock-down. The President also decided to close the country’s borders in the wake of what he called “unprecedented terrorist attacks”.
“To all those who have seen these awful things, I want to say we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless,” said the French President Hollande from outside the Bataclan theater where 118 people were killed.
“Because when terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities they must be certain that they are facing a determined France, a united France, a France that is together and does not let itself be moved, even if today we express infinite sorrow.”
American Airlines has also suspended flights to Paris until additional information is available on the “tragic incident”, said a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, for the first time since 1944, a curfew has been enforced in Paris. The city’s mayor also urged citizens to refrain from leaving their homes.
While CNN reports ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, there has so far been no official statement released by the terrorist organisation that is based in Syria and Iraq. Paris security officials told AFP that at least five terrorists have been killed, including three at Bataclan theater.
Earlier, a hostage who escaped from the theater prior to the police raid told CNN that the attackers were “calmly” executing hostages in silence. He reportedly managed to escape as the assailants were reloading their guns.
PHOTO: Heavily armed police surround Notre Dame #ParisAttacks – @BILD pic.twitter.com/qM4Uudrc4I
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) November 14, 2015
The theater attack were one of six attacks across Paris. Health authorities have reported that 118 people were killed at the Bataclan theater in the 11th arrondissement after four armed attacks opened fire on the crowd and held dozens of hostages. BFMTV, a French television channel, reported that one of the gunmen attacking the Bataclan music theater shouted, “This is for Syria” before opening fire. The four attackers were killed after three of them wearing suicide vests blew themselves up as police raided the theater. Around the same time, there was an attack on a restaurant in the 10th arrondissement, killing 11. The restaurant is in the same neighborhood as the Charlie Hebdo office, where three gunmen killed several of the newspaper’s staff in January of this year.
Shock, horror for 80,000 fans at Stade de France https://t.co/EFHHIe63Z9 pic.twitter.com/yDxg8uBDp4 — Agence France-Presse (@AFP) November 14, 2015
These attacks came shortly after twin blasts were heard outside the Stade de France stadium in Paris, where a friendly soccer match between Germany and France was being held.
President Hollande was at the Stade de France to watch the soccer match but was evacuated as the explosions were heard from inside the stadium.
There have also reportedly been two other shootings in rue de Charonne and at the Les Halles shopping mall.
Reports indicate that eight attackers have been killed.
World leaders have all voiced their condemnation of the attacks and expressed solidarity with France.
In a statement, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi condemned the attack and said that terrorism will be defeated.
US President Barack Obama delivered a speech after news of the attacks broke, describing the incidents as an “attack on all humanity” and “an outrageous attempt to terrorize civilians”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed her condolences and “deep shock”.
This story is developing.
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