Paris is gripped by terror tonight as multiple, apparently coordinated attacks have unfolded in the French capital.
As many as a dozen people were killed as multiple gunmen opened fire on a busy restaurant in Paris: Le Petit Cambodge, a popular Cambodian eatery at Rue Ailbert and Rue Bichat. A witness who was at the restaurant, which was crowded on a Friday night, told FRANCE24 that she heard about 25-30 shots.
There were also two explosions, perhaps grenades, just outside of the national stadium.
French President Francois Hollande was reportedly attending a soccer match between France and Germany at the Stade de France when the attacks occurred, and was evacuated safely. Hollande and the interior minister were coming together in an emergency meeting.
French TV is reporting that hostages have been taken at the Bataclan concert venue. There are also reported fatalities at the location.
A FRANCE24 anchor tweeted that the death toll was at least 18. Dozens have been injured.
DEVELOPING….
5 p.m. EST: Le Figaro is reporting that a dismembered body has been found at the Stade de France.
FRANCE24 reports that as many as 60 hostages are being held at the Bataclan. Playing tonight at the concert hall was the California rock band Eagles of Death Metal.
French authorities have upgraded the death toll to 26.
A map of the attack sites, via BBC:
5:15 p.m. EST: The death toll has been raised to 40.
There were reportedly three explosions total outside of the Stade de France.
Online jihadists are issuing additional threats:
5:30 p.m. EST: The death toll has been raised to 60.
ISIS backers have started a Twitter hashtag in Arabic that translates to “Paris burns” to celebrate the attacks. They’re also using #FranceUnderAttack.
In this video, you can hear one of the explosions during the France-Germany match:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhUOW2hvbKI
5:45 p.m. EST: There are unconfirmed reports of a fourth attack at the Les Halles shopping center.
6 p.m. EST: President Obama emerged in the White House briefing room for a short statement. “Once again we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians,” he said, calling the evening an “attack on all humanity and the universal values we share.”
Obama said the U.S. stands “prepared and ready” to offer whatever assistance is needed to respond to the attacks. “France is our oldest ally. The French people have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States time and again. And we want to be very clear that we stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism,” he said.
“…We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.”
Obama said he chose not to call President Hollande tonight — “my expectation is he’s very busy at the moment.”
“I don’t want to speculate at this point in terms of who was responsible for this. It appears that there may still be live activity and dangers that are taking place as we speak,” he said. “And so until we know from French officials that the situation is under control and we have more information about it, I don’t want to speculate.”
The Obama administration has been eagerly awaiting the Paris climate conference beginning Nov. 30. That comes after the G-20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, beginning Sunday. Obama did not answer a shouted question about whether his plans would change.
Hollande called a state of emergency, telling the nation that he was summoning military reinforcements, calling an emergency cabinet meeting and closing France’s borders.
The French president vowed that “once again we will be able to overcome the terrorists.”
“These operations are not over … maintain your trust in what the security forces can do to protect the population,” Hollande said.
6:15 p.m. EST: A witness told CNN that the theater is a “total bloodbath” and he saw about 20 bodies (dead or badly wounded). He said the gunmen were calmly killing people, reloading, and killing more. There are as many as six or eight shooters at the venue.
CNN: Reporter inside concert hall escapes. Says it’s a blood bath. People hiding inside are texting, but are no police inside.
— Anne Bayefsky (@AnneBayefsky) November 13, 2015
6:30 p.m. EST: Some ISIS accounts are claiming a dozen gunmen/suicide bombers were involved in the attack.
Video of a gunbattle between French authorities and the terrorists at the Bataclan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-YDHrWCRpU
6:45 p.m. EST: Agence France-Presse and Le Monde are reporting seven separate attack sites across Paris tonight.
Hostages are reportedly being rescued from the concert hall.
7:15 p.m. EST: Agence France-Presse is reporting “around 100” dead in the Bataclan concert venue at the conclusion of the hostage standoff.
7:45 p.m. EST: The deputy mayor of Paris says there are at least 118 dead in the concert hall.
The total number of dead in seven attacks is at least 149.
There is still no claim of responsibility.
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