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| Paris terror attacks: Hollande says Isis atrocity was 'act of war' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a deadly wave of bombings and shootings across Paris that has left nearly 130 people dead and which the French president, François Hollande, denounced as an “act of war”. | Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a deadly wave of bombings and shootings across Paris that has left nearly 130 people dead and which the French president, François Hollande, denounced as an “act of war”. |
| Paris police reported that at least 128 people had been killed and 180 more injured – including 80 seriously – in the six attacks, the deadliest in Europe since the 2004 Madrid railway bombings. Eight militants also died. | Paris police reported that at least 128 people had been killed and 180 more injured – including 80 seriously – in the six attacks, the deadliest in Europe since the 2004 Madrid railway bombings. Eight militants also died. |
| Related: Paris attacks: what we know so far | Related: Paris attacks: what we know so far |
| Isis said it had dispatched jihadis wearing suicide bomb belts and carrying machine guns around the French capital on Friday night in a coordinated series of attacks intended to show that France would remain one of its main targets as long as its present policies continued. | Isis said it had dispatched jihadis wearing suicide bomb belts and carrying machine guns around the French capital on Friday night in a coordinated series of attacks intended to show that France would remain one of its main targets as long as its present policies continued. |
| “France and those who follow her voice must know that they remain the main target of Islamic State and that they will continue to smell the odour of death for having led the crusade, for having dared to insult our prophet, for having boasted of fighting Islam in France and striking Muslims in the caliphate with their planes,” the group said in a statement. | “France and those who follow her voice must know that they remain the main target of Islamic State and that they will continue to smell the odour of death for having led the crusade, for having dared to insult our prophet, for having boasted of fighting Islam in France and striking Muslims in the caliphate with their planes,” the group said in a statement. |
| Hollande described the attacks as cowardly and “an act of war” that had been carefully “prepared, organised and planned from outside the country by Islamic State, but with help from inside”. “Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action,” the president said. He did not say what form that action might take. | Hollande described the attacks as cowardly and “an act of war” that had been carefully “prepared, organised and planned from outside the country by Islamic State, but with help from inside”. “Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action,” the president said. He did not say what form that action might take. |
| These were attacks “against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: a free country that means something to the whole planet,” Hollande said, calling for unity and courage and saying he would address an extraordinary meeting of parliament on Monday. | These were attacks “against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: a free country that means something to the whole planet,” Hollande said, calling for unity and courage and saying he would address an extraordinary meeting of parliament on Monday. |
| France would observe three days of official mourning, the president said. He said that in the meantime “all measures to protect our compatriots and our territory are being taken within the framework of the state of emergency” that has been declared. | France would observe three days of official mourning, the president said. He said that in the meantime “all measures to protect our compatriots and our territory are being taken within the framework of the state of emergency” that has been declared. |
| Related: Paris attack witness: 'he was dressed in black, professional, shooting and killing' | Related: Paris attack witness: 'he was dressed in black, professional, shooting and killing' |
| Two police officers told French media that a Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the suicide bombers, but no identities or nationalities have been officially released officially. No arrests had been made by Saturday morning and it was not clear if any suspected gunmen were still on the loose. Police said they were were screening hours of CCTV footage from the six locations where the attacks took place. | Two police officers told French media that a Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the suicide bombers, but no identities or nationalities have been officially released officially. No arrests had been made by Saturday morning and it was not clear if any suspected gunmen were still on the loose. Police said they were were screening hours of CCTV footage from the six locations where the attacks took place. |
| An extra 1,500 soldiers were mobilised to reinforce police in Paris, Hollande’s office said. All Saturday’s sports events in the capital were cancelled, and access to public facilities such as museums and swimming pools was restricted and several metro stations remained closed. | An extra 1,500 soldiers were mobilised to reinforce police in Paris, Hollande’s office said. All Saturday’s sports events in the capital were cancelled, and access to public facilities such as museums and swimming pools was restricted and several metro stations remained closed. |
| In southern Germany, the Bavarian state premier, Horst Seehofer, said there was reason to believe that a man arrested last week during a routine motorway check with “many machine guns, revolvers and explosives” in his car might be linked to the attacks. | In southern Germany, the Bavarian state premier, Horst Seehofer, said there was reason to believe that a man arrested last week during a routine motorway check with “many machine guns, revolvers and explosives” in his car might be linked to the attacks. |
| Related: France more active than rest of the west in tackling Syria | Related: France more active than rest of the west in tackling Syria |
| Islamic State also released an undated video on Saturday calling on Muslims to continue attacking France. Its foreign media arm, Al-Hayat Media Centre, filmed a number of militants – apparently French citizens – sitting cross-legged in an unidentified location and burning their passports. | Islamic State also released an undated video on Saturday calling on Muslims to continue attacking France. Its foreign media arm, Al-Hayat Media Centre, filmed a number of militants – apparently French citizens – sitting cross-legged in an unidentified location and burning their passports. |
| “As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear travelling to the market,” one of the militants, identified as “Abu Maryam the Frenchman”, told the camera. Addressing his fellow jihadis, he said: “Indeed, you have been ordered to fight the infidel wherever you find him. What are you waiting for? There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit.” | “As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear travelling to the market,” one of the militants, identified as “Abu Maryam the Frenchman”, told the camera. Addressing his fellow jihadis, he said: “Indeed, you have been ordered to fight the infidel wherever you find him. What are you waiting for? There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit.” |
| The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said Paris had been targeted because as a city “strengthened by its diversity”, it was “unbearable for fanatics”. “The message we want to give them is that we will be stronger than those who wish to reduce us to silence,” she said. | The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said Paris had been targeted because as a city “strengthened by its diversity”, it was “unbearable for fanatics”. “The message we want to give them is that we will be stronger than those who wish to reduce us to silence,” she said. |
| As Parisians queued to give blood for the wounded victims, a Muslim community leader, Nadir Kahia, said he feared a “tsunami of hatred” against Muslims and residents of the capital’s poorer districts. | As Parisians queued to give blood for the wounded victims, a Muslim community leader, Nadir Kahia, said he feared a “tsunami of hatred” against Muslims and residents of the capital’s poorer districts. |
| The carefully orchestrated series of attacks took place at the Stade de France stadium north of Paris, a packed concert hall and several cafes and restaurants in the capital’s north-eastern 10th and 11th arrondissements. | The carefully orchestrated series of attacks took place at the Stade de France stadium north of Paris, a packed concert hall and several cafes and restaurants in the capital’s north-eastern 10th and 11th arrondissements. |
| They came despite France, one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, being on a high state of alert for possible terrorist attacks in the run-up to a global climate conference later this month. | They came despite France, one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, being on a high state of alert for possible terrorist attacks in the run-up to a global climate conference later this month. |
| The deadliest assault was at the Bataclan theatre, a popular concert hall a few hundred metres from the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine hit along with a Jewish supermarket by Islamist militants in January during a three-day assault that left 20 people dead. | The deadliest assault was at the Bataclan theatre, a popular concert hall a few hundred metres from the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine hit along with a Jewish supermarket by Islamist militants in January during a three-day assault that left 20 people dead. |
| Witnesses said four men marched into the venue, where more than 1,000 people had gathered to hear the Californian rock band Eagles of Death Metal, armed with Kalashnikov rifles and shouting “Allahu akbar”. At least 82 people lost their lives in the ensuing carnage, and dozens more were temporarily taken hostage until armed riot police stormed the building. | Witnesses said four men marched into the venue, where more than 1,000 people had gathered to hear the Californian rock band Eagles of Death Metal, armed with Kalashnikov rifles and shouting “Allahu akbar”. At least 82 people lost their lives in the ensuing carnage, and dozens more were temporarily taken hostage until armed riot police stormed the building. |
| “They didn’t stop firing. There was blood everywhere, corpses everywhere. Everyone was trying to flee,” said Pierre Janaszak, a radio presenter who was at the concert. Other survivors said three of the attackers detonated their suicide belts as the security forces burst in. | “They didn’t stop firing. There was blood everywhere, corpses everywhere. Everyone was trying to flee,” said Pierre Janaszak, a radio presenter who was at the concert. Other survivors said three of the attackers detonated their suicide belts as the security forces burst in. |
| Video footage shot from outside the venue showed bodies lying in the street, dozens of people running away from the entrance and survivors pulling the injured to safety. One witness described the scene as a bloodbath. | Video footage shot from outside the venue showed bodies lying in the street, dozens of people running away from the entrance and survivors pulling the injured to safety. One witness described the scene as a bloodbath. |
| Outside the Stade de France, where the French national football team was playing Germany, a number of bombs were detonated and Hollande, who was at the match, was evacuated by his security guards to the interior ministry. It was not yet clear how many people died in that attack. | Outside the Stade de France, where the French national football team was playing Germany, a number of bombs were detonated and Hollande, who was at the match, was evacuated by his security guards to the interior ministry. It was not yet clear how many people died in that attack. |
| The other shootings were at bars and restaurants on the Boulevard de Charonne, where 18 people reportedly lost their lives; Boulevard Voltaire, where one person died; Rue de la Fontaine-au-Roi, where five were killed; and Rue Alibert, where 14 were shot dead. | The other shootings were at bars and restaurants on the Boulevard de Charonne, where 18 people reportedly lost their lives; Boulevard Voltaire, where one person died; Rue de la Fontaine-au-Roi, where five were killed; and Rue Alibert, where 14 were shot dead. |
| Mark Colclough, a British-Danish psychotherapist, was on the Rue de la Fointaine au Roi in the 11th arrondissement when a gunman opened fire on patrons inside. “He was standing in a shooting position,” Colclough said. | Mark Colclough, a British-Danish psychotherapist, was on the Rue de la Fointaine au Roi in the 11th arrondissement when a gunman opened fire on patrons inside. “He was standing in a shooting position,” Colclough said. |
| “He had his right leg forward and he was standing with his left leg back. He was holding up to his left shoulder a long automatic machine gun. It was fully intentional, professional bursts of three or four shots. Everything he was wearing was tight, no zippers or collars. Everything was toned black. A man in military uniform, black jumper, black trousers, black shoes or boots and a machine-gun.” | “He had his right leg forward and he was standing with his left leg back. He was holding up to his left shoulder a long automatic machine gun. It was fully intentional, professional bursts of three or four shots. Everything he was wearing was tight, no zippers or collars. Everything was toned black. A man in military uniform, black jumper, black trousers, black shoes or boots and a machine-gun.” |
| On Saturday, a desperate social media search was under way to identify victims, with few details of their identities yet confirmed. A number of those killed were expected to be from other countries and the missing included children as young as 12. | On Saturday, a desperate social media search was under way to identify victims, with few details of their identities yet confirmed. A number of those killed were expected to be from other countries and the missing included children as young as 12. |
| The slaughter brought immediate international condemnation, with Barack Obama calling it “an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share”. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she was deeply shaken. | The slaughter brought immediate international condemnation, with Barack Obama calling it “an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share”. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she was deeply shaken. |
| David Cameron said the UK “must be prepared for a number of British casualties” from the Paris atrocity and condemned the “brutal and callous murderers”. The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said his country “shared the sadness and the pain of the French people”. Terrorist crimes “cannot be justified”, he said. “The Paris tragedy requires of us all to unite in the fight against extremism, to bring a strong answer to terrorists’ actions.” | David Cameron said the UK “must be prepared for a number of British casualties” from the Paris atrocity and condemned the “brutal and callous murderers”. The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said his country “shared the sadness and the pain of the French people”. Terrorist crimes “cannot be justified”, he said. “The Paris tragedy requires of us all to unite in the fight against extremism, to bring a strong answer to terrorists’ actions.” |
| Pope Francis also condemned the killings as inhuman acts that left him shaken and pained. “There is no justification for these things,” he told a Catholic TV station. | Pope Francis also condemned the killings as inhuman acts that left him shaken and pained. “There is no justification for these things,” he told a Catholic TV station. |
| The attacks follow a narrowly averted disaster in August, when an Islamist gunman was overpowered on a packed high-speed train in northern France. | The attacks follow a narrowly averted disaster in August, when an Islamist gunman was overpowered on a packed high-speed train in northern France. |
| Additional reporting by Peter Walker and Ben Doherty | Additional reporting by Peter Walker and Ben Doherty |