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| Three French citizens arrested over Paris attacks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three French nationals have been arrested in Belgium in connection with a bloody wave of suicide bombings and shootings in Paris that left nearly 130 people dead, the Paris public prosecutor said. | |
| Francois Molins said one of the three, all of whom were living in Belgium, had rented a Seat Leon car used by some of the seven jihadists as they opened fire on fans at a city centre concert hall and customers in a string of cafes and bars on Friday evening. | |
| Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which the French president, François Hollande, denounced as an “act of war” that must be countered “mercilessly”. | Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which the French president, François Hollande, denounced as an “act of war” that must be countered “mercilessly”. |
| Molins told a press conference that at least 129 people were killed and 352 more injured – including 99 critically – in the six attacks, France’s deadliest since the second world war and the worst witnessed in Europe since the 2004 Madrid railway bombings. | |
| Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which the French president, François Hollande, denounced as an “act of war” that must be countered “mercilessly”. | |
| The terror attacks were France’s deadliest since the second world war and the worst witnessed in Europe since the 2004 Madrid railway bombings. | |
| Related: Paris attacks: what we know so far | Related: Paris attacks: what we know so far |
| As police worked to identify the eight militants, all of whom died in the attacks, it emerged that at least one of the fighters, identified by his fingerprints, was a French national with known links to Islamist networks from the southern Paris suburb of Courcoronnes. | As police worked to identify the eight militants, all of whom died in the attacks, it emerged that at least one of the fighters, identified by his fingerprints, was a French national with known links to Islamist networks from the southern Paris suburb of Courcoronnes. |
| Investigators also told French media a Syrian passport, belonging to a man born in 1970, and an Egyptian passport had been found lying close by the bodies of two other jihadis, both of whom blew themselves up in the course of their attacks. | Investigators also told French media a Syrian passport, belonging to a man born in 1970, and an Egyptian passport had been found lying close by the bodies of two other jihadis, both of whom blew themselves up in the course of their attacks. |
| Greece’s citizen protection minister, Nikos Toskas, said separately that the owner of the Syrian passport had entered the European Union through the Greek island of Leros on 3 October, adding: “We do not know if the passport was checked by other countries through which the holder likely passed.” | Greece’s citizen protection minister, Nikos Toskas, said separately that the owner of the Syrian passport had entered the European Union through the Greek island of Leros on 3 October, adding: “We do not know if the passport was checked by other countries through which the holder likely passed.” |
| As Europe struggles to contain an influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants, the revelation that one of the Paris killers may have travelled the refugee route, been registered in Greece in accordance with EU rules, and managed to make his way northwards to join what unconfirmed reports suggested was effectively an independent jihadi cell could prove deeply damaging. | As Europe struggles to contain an influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants, the revelation that one of the Paris killers may have travelled the refugee route, been registered in Greece in accordance with EU rules, and managed to make his way northwards to join what unconfirmed reports suggested was effectively an independent jihadi cell could prove deeply damaging. |
| There were unconfirmed suggestions the men may have made up an independent cell of jihadis, several of whom may have fought in Syria. | There were unconfirmed suggestions the men may have made up an independent cell of jihadis, several of whom may have fought in Syria. |
| Isis said it had dispatched the “eight brothers”, wearing suicide bomb belts and carrying machine guns, across the French capital on Friday night in a “blessed attack on ... crusader France”. | Isis said it had dispatched the “eight brothers”, wearing suicide bomb belts and carrying machine guns, across the French capital on Friday night in a “blessed attack on ... crusader France”. |
| The “carefully selected” sites and coordinated nature of the attacks were intended, it said, to show that France would remain one of its main targets as long as its present policies continue. | The “carefully selected” sites and coordinated nature of the attacks were intended, it said, to show that France would remain one of its main targets as long as its present policies continue. |
| “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 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 boasted of fighting Islam in France and striking Muslims in the caliphate with their planes,” the group said in a statement. |
| The Wall Street Journal reported that at least one of the attackers at the Stade de France had a ticket to the France-Germany friendly match on Friday night and tried to enter the venue, citing a security guard who was on duty, as well as French police. The guard said the attacker was discovered wearing an explosives vest when he was searched at the entrance to the stadium about 15 minutes after the game started. | |
| The Swedish, Belgian and Romanian governments said their citizens were among those killed and there were growing fears that at least one Briton and an American man also had lost their lives. Frantic friends and relatives took to social media, using the Twitter hashtag #rechercheParis, to appeal for information about the missing. | The Swedish, Belgian and Romanian governments said their citizens were among those killed and there were growing fears that at least one Briton and an American man also had lost their lives. Frantic friends and relatives took to social media, using the Twitter hashtag #rechercheParis, to appeal for information about the missing. |
| Hollande described the attacks as “cowardly” and “an act of war” that had been “prepared, organised and planned from outside the country by Islamic State, but with help from inside”. He added: “We will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group. Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action.” He but did not say what form that action might take. | Hollande described the attacks as “cowardly” and “an act of war” that had been “prepared, organised and planned from outside the country by Islamic State, but with help from inside”. He added: “We will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group. Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action.” He but 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”, the president said, calling for “unity and courage”. France would observe three days of official mourning, he said. | 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”, the president said, calling for “unity and courage”. France would observe three days of official mourning, he said. |
| Under the first national state of emergency to be declared in France since 1961, 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, while many major shops, department stores, museums and tourist sites – including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Disneyland – stayed closed. Several metro stations were also shut. | Under the first national state of emergency to be declared in France since 1961, 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, while many major shops, department stores, museums and tourist sites – including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Disneyland – stayed closed. Several metro stations were also shut. |
| No arrests were announced in Paris, and a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office, Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre, said authorities could not rule out the possibility that other militants involved in the attack remained at large. Police said they were were screening hours of CCTV footage from the half-dozen locations where the attacks took place. | No arrests were announced in Paris, and a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office, Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre, said authorities could not rule out the possibility that other militants involved in the attack remained at large. Police said they were were screening hours of CCTV footage from the half-dozen locations where the attacks took place. |
| In southern Germany, however, 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 “possibly be linked” to the attacks. | In southern Germany, however, 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 “possibly be linked” to the attacks. |
| 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 added: “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 added: “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 in their hundreds to give blood at a hospital close to a concert hall where the majority of the victims died, a Muslim community leader, Nadir Kahia, said he feared a “tsunami of hatred” against Muslims and residents of the capital’s poorer districts in the wake of the attacks. | As Parisians queued in their hundreds to give blood at a hospital close to a concert hall where the majority of the victims died, a Muslim community leader, Nadir Kahia, said he feared a “tsunami of hatred” against Muslims and residents of the capital’s poorer districts in the wake of the attacks. |
| The carefully orchestrated series of attacks began at 9.20pm outside the Stade de France stadium outside north of Paris, where three suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts in the course of about 20 minutes. Hollande, who was attending at a friendly football match between France and Germany at the stadium, had to evacuated by his security guards to the interior ministry. | The carefully orchestrated series of attacks began at 9.20pm outside the Stade de France stadium outside north of Paris, where three suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts in the course of about 20 minutes. Hollande, who was attending at a friendly football match between France and Germany at the stadium, had to evacuated by his security guards to the interior ministry. |
| At about the same time, four gunmen entered a popular concert hall in the capital’s north-eastern 11th arrondissement, while others opened fire on a string of cafes and restaurants not far away, crowded on a mild November evening. They came despite France – one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes 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. | At about the same time, four gunmen entered a popular concert hall in the capital’s north-eastern 11th arrondissement, while others opened fire on a string of cafes and restaurants not far away, crowded on a mild November evening. They came despite France – one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes 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, 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 onslaught that left 20 people dead, including three Islamist gunmen. | The deadliest assault was at the Bataclan, 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 onslaught that left 20 people dead, including three Islamist gunmen. |
| Witnesses said the militants 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 87 people lost their lives in the ensuing carnage, while dozens more were taken hostage for nearly three hours until armed riot police stormed the building at about midnight. | Witnesses said the militants 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 87 people lost their lives in the ensuing carnage, while dozens more were taken hostage for nearly three hours until armed riot police stormed the building at about midnight. |
| “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 dead 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 dead 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. |
| The other shootings were at bars and restaurants on the Rue 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. | 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. | “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.” | “Everything was toned black. A man in military uniform, black jumper, black trousers, black shoes or boots and a machine gun.” |
| 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' |
| 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.The attacks follow a narrowly averted disaster in August, when an Islamist gunman was overpowered on a packed high-speed train in northern France. | 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. |