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Attack at Paris's Bataclan: 'two or three men began shooting blindly at crowd' Attack at Paris's Bataclan: 'two or three men began shooting blindly at crowd'
(35 minutes later)
As it is almost every Friday night, the Bataclan nightclub and concert hall near Paris’ Place de la République was heaving. As it is almost every Friday night, the Bataclan nightclub and concert hall near the Place de la République in Paris was heaving.
Eagles of Death Metal, the Californian rock group, were playing and had been on the stage for an hour when the music was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.Eagles of Death Metal, the Californian rock group, were playing and had been on the stage for an hour when the music was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.
It was before 10pm, and the news flashes, reporting a “series of gunfire break out in Paris” conveyed nothing of the bloodbath taking place in the French capital. It was before 10pm and the news flashes, reporting a “series of gunfire break out in Paris”, conveyed nothing of the bloodbath taking place in the French capital.
In what appeared to be coordinated and almost simultaneous terrorist attacks, dozens of people were killed, and dozens more injured. At midnight, police said “several hundred” concert-goers inside the Bataclan were being held hostage by an unknown number of gunmen. In what appeared to be coordinated and almost simultaneous terrorist attacks, dozens of people were killed and dozens more injured. At midnight, police said “several hundred” concert-goers inside the Bataclan were being held hostage by an unknown number of gunmen. Outside there were bodies in the street.
Outside there were bodies in the street. Just after midnight, it was reported that French special forces launched an assault on the Bataclan in an attempt to free the hostages and, after a series of explosions, a dozen people ran from from the building.
Later, a visibly shocked François Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced France was closing its borders. “C’est une horreur,” the French president said. The words needed no translation or embellishment. It was a horror.
He said French security forces were, as he spoke, carrying out “an assault” in an unspecified place which was believed to be the Bataclan.
As the police, emergency services and military mobilised armoured vehicles, ambulances and helicopters, the heart of the French capital was sealed off.
Related: Paris attacks: shootings and explosions leave scores deadRelated: Paris attacks: shootings and explosions leave scores dead
Just after midnight it was reported that French special forces had launched an assault on the Bataclan in an attempt to free the hostages. After a series of explosions, a dozen people ran from from the building. Julien Pierce, a journalist from Europe 1 radio, was inside the club in the 11th arrondissement of Paris when the shooting started. “I found myself inside the concert hall when several armed individuals burst in, in the middle of the concert,” he said.
Later, a visibly shocked François Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced France was closing its borders. “C’est une horreur”, he said. The words needed no translation or embellishment. It was a horror.
He said French security forces were, as he spoke, carrying out “an assault” in an unspecified place, which was believed to be the Bataclan.
As the police, emergency services, and military mobilised armoured vehicles, ambulances and helicopters, the heart of the French capital was sealed off.
Julien Pierce, a journalist from Europe 1 radio, was inside the club in the 11th arrondissement of Paris when the shooting started.
“I found myself inside the concert hall when several armed individuals burst in, in the middle of the concert,” he reported.
“Two or three men, without masks, came in with kalashnikov-type automatic weapons and began shooting blindly at the crowd ... it lasted 10, 15 minutes. It was extremely violent and there was a wave of panic.“Two or three men, without masks, came in with kalashnikov-type automatic weapons and began shooting blindly at the crowd ... it lasted 10, 15 minutes. It was extremely violent and there was a wave of panic.
“Everyone was running in all directions towards the stage. It was a stampede and even I was trampled. I saw a lot of people hit by bullets. The gunmen had loads of time to reload at least three times. They weren’t masked, they knew what they were doing, they were very young. “Everyone was running in all directions towards the stage. It was a stampede and even I was trampled on. I saw a lot of people hit by bullets. The gunmen had loads of time to reload at least three times. They weren’t masked; they knew what they were doing; they were very young.
Pierce said the attackers had “not said a word”, but other witnesses spoke of hearing the gunmen shout: “This is for Syria”.Pierce said the attackers had “not said a word”, but other witnesses spoke of hearing the gunmen shout: “This is for Syria”.
Shortly before the attack on the Bataclan, around 21.30, a few hundred metres away, in the neighbouring 11th arrondissement, at least two gunmen had marched down a popular street where the bars and cafes were packed with weekend revellers and opened fire on a busy bar and a Vietnamese restaurant. Shortly before the attack on the Bataclan, at about 9.30pm, a few hundred metres away in the neighbouring 11th arrondissement, at least two gunmen marched down a popular street where the bars and cafes were packed with weekend revellers and opened fire on a busy bar and a Vietnamese restaurant.
In the north of Paris, a series of explosions was reported at the Stade de France, where Hollande was watching France play Germany in a friendly football match. Later, police said a suicide bomber had blown himself up killing several people. In unconfirmed reports, spectators said there had been at least three explosions beforehand and grenades were thrown into the crowd.In the north of Paris, a series of explosions was reported at the Stade de France, where Hollande was watching France play Germany in a friendly football match. Later, police said a suicide bomber had blown himself up killing several people. In unconfirmed reports, spectators said there had been at least three explosions beforehand and grenades were thrown into the crowd.
As confusion and panic erupted in the French capital, the death toll rose: first 16, then 25, 42, possibly 60. In truth, it was impossible for anyone to know exactly how many had been killed. As confusion and panic erupted in the French capital, the death toll rose: first 16, then 25, 42, possibly 60, then more than 100. In truth, it was impossible for anyone to know exactly how many had been killed.
Related: Paris attacked by shootings and explosions - in pictures
Outside the Bataclan, bodies lay in the street covered by sheets thrown from flats above. Inside, concert goers were believed to be being held hostage by the gunmen.Outside the Bataclan, bodies lay in the street covered by sheets thrown from flats above. Inside, concert goers were believed to be being held hostage by the gunmen.
Pierce managed to escape the building and reported seeing “a dozen bodies on the ground in pools of blood, including a young girl who had been hit by two bullets. I carried her 50 metres to the emergency services”.Pierce managed to escape the building and reported seeing “a dozen bodies on the ground in pools of blood, including a young girl who had been hit by two bullets. I carried her 50 metres to the emergency services”.
“At the time I’m speaking terrorist attacks on an unprecedented scale are taking place in Paris. There are dozens of deaths. It’s a horror, “said a visibly shaken François Hollande in a national address from the Elysée Palace. “At the time I’m speaking, terrorist attacks on an unprecedented scale are taking place in Paris. There are dozens of deaths. It’s a horror,” said a visibly shaken Hollande in a national address from the Elysée Palace.
France has been on high alert ever since joining the American-led campaign of airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but nobody imagined such a bloodbath in the city. Related: Paris attacked by shootings and explosions - in pictures
France has been on high alert since joining the American-led campaign of airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but nobody imagined such a bloodbath in the city.
Witnesses spoke of scenes “straight out of a horror film”.Witnesses spoke of scenes “straight out of a horror film”.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day that something so terrible, so indescribable would happen in Paris,” Franck, a customer in a bar near the Bataclan told BFMTV. “I never thought I’d live to see the day that something so terrible, so indescribable would happen in Paris,” Franck, a customer in a bar near the Bataclan, told BFMTV.
The French authorities announced that they had launched the unprecedented security alert Alpha Rouge, signalling that Paris was under “multiple attacks”. The French authorities announced they had launched the unprecedented security alert Alpha Rouge, signalling that Paris was under “multiple attacks”.
City hall advised Parisians to stay at home and five Metro lines that pass through the 10th and 11th arrondissements were halted.City hall advised Parisians to stay at home and five Metro lines that pass through the 10th and 11th arrondissements were halted.
As the emergency services struggled to evacuate the dead and wounded, there were reports of further attacks in the capital, including Les Halles, the large central shopping area.As the emergency services struggled to evacuate the dead and wounded, there were reports of further attacks in the capital, including Les Halles, the large central shopping area.
Le Monde reported that there were a total of seven separate attacks across the city.Le Monde reported that there were a total of seven separate attacks across the city.