Paris attacks: At least 120 killed, 8 attackers dead
'It's a horror,' says French president as he vows ruthless retaliation; WARNING: Graphic images
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- At least 120 killed in multiple attacks in Paris
- All attackers believed dead; reports say there were 8 of them
- Paris prosecutor says authorities investigating six attack sites
A series of attacks targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots killed at least 120 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since the Second World War. President Franois Hollande condemned it as terrorism and pledged that France would stand firm against its foes.
More than200 were injured in at least six separate attacks around the capital Friday. The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting an American rock bandwhere scores of people were held hostage and attackers ended the standoff by detonating explosive belts. Police who stormed the building encountered a bloody scene of horror inside.
French police said they believe all of the attackers involved in the shootings and bombings are dead. The Associated Press reported that eight militants had been killed,seven of them in suicide bombings.
The Paris prosecutor's office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre told The Associated Press that the eighth attacker was killed by security forces at the concert hall.She could not exclude the possibility that some attackers might still be at large. Authorities are searching for possible accomplices.
The attack unfolded with two suicide bombings and an explosion outside the national stadium duringa soccer match between the French and German national teams. Within minutes, according to Paris police chief Michel Cadot, another group of attackers sprayed cafs outside the concert hall with machine gunfire, then stormed inside and opened fire on the panicked audience. As police closed in, they detonated explosive belts, killing themselves.
One witness toldRadio France that the attackers came into the venue, where 1,500 people were attending a rock concert,and started shooting.
"They shot right into the crowd while shouting 'AllahAkbar' with shotguns, I think It was hell," one witness atBataclantold Radio France, according to AFP.
In addition to the deaths at the concert hall, dozens of people were killed at the other attack sites.
"This is a terrible ordeal that, again, assails us," Hollandesaid. "We know where it comes from, who these criminals are, who these terrorists are."
Paris prosecutorFranoisMolinssaid the investigation into the attacks will try to determine what happened at six sites around the city, includingthe Bataclan, where anywhere from 87 to 112 people were killed, according to various reports.
The other attacksites were:
- The Stade de France in Saint-Denisnorth of Paris, where, French media reported,four people were killed in two suicide attacks and an explosion, including three attackers.
- La Belle Equipe bar, 92 rue de CharonneBlvd. in the 11th arrondissement,where 18 people died.
- Le Carillon restaurant, 18AlibertSt., andLe Petit Cambodge, 20 AlibertSt., in the 10th arrondissement,where 14 died in total.
- VoltaireBlvd., where one person was killed.
- De laFontaineau RoiSt., where five deaths were reported.
'It's a horror'
According to reports,Hollandewas at thesoccer game andwasevacuated from the stadium soon after reports of the attacks emerged.
"We will lead the fight. It will be ruthless," Hollande said outside theconcert hallshortly aftersecurity forces hadstormed the building, ending the siege.
"It was carnage," Marc Coupris told the Guardian newspaper after he was freed from the hostage-taking."It looked like a battlefield, there was blood everywhere, there were bodies everywhere."
Terrifying: Paris gunmen firing at French civilians. Just now. #ParisAttacks pic.twitter.com/sTWhi3Pwvc
—@cjwerlemanGunfire and explosions had been heard outside theconcert venueshortly before the police assault ended.
"It was horrible, there were so many corpses, I just can't talk about it," another man told the Guardian as he left theBataclanvenue.
A woman who was at a bar nearBataclansaid people ran intothe bar, fleeing the initial shooting. "They were panicked, wounded, screaming, blood was running all over them.People were having panic attacks; it was horrific."
- Former Montrealer says he saw gunfire and ran
- Canada will offer 'all possible assistance,'Trudeausays
The attacks also promptedHollande to declarea state of emergency, and he announced that he was closing the country's borders, although officials later said they were just re-imposing border checks that had been removed after Europe created its free-travel zone in the 1980s.France's foreign ministry saidairports in that country wouldremain openand said train travel will continue.
Hollandealsocancelled his trip to the G20 summit in Turkey, which begins Sunday.
Hollande announced he haddeployed military around Paris.
"It's a horror," Hollandeearliersaid in a televised statement.
He said the country needs to stand in solidarity and remain calm despite the attacks.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeausaid that so far, there was noinformation that any Canadians were victims of the attacks.
"These terrorist attacks are deeply worrying and, obviously, unsettling to people around the world,"Trudeausaid before leavingfor theG20 summit inAntalya, Turkey.
"We have offered all of our help and support to the government of France."
Several police agencies investigating
An Associated Press reporter who wasin the stadium Friday night heardtwo explosions loud enough to penetrate the sounds of cheering fans. Sirens were immediately heard, and a helicopter was circlingoverhead.
AFP reported that French authorities are investigating the attacks in connection with a terrorist plot. Three different security forces will be involved in the investigation, including the anti-terror unit of the Paris division of the French national police.
The attack comes as France has heightened security measures ahead of a major global climate conference that starts in two weeks, out of fear of violent protests and potential terrorist attacks.
EmilioiMacchio, fromRavenna, Italy, was at the Carillon bar near the restaurant that was targeted, having a beer on the sidewalk when the shooting started. He said he didn't see any gunmen or victims, but hid behind a corner then ran away.
"It sounded like fireworks," he said.
U.S. President Barack Obamadescribed the incident as"outrageous attacks" on "our oldestally."
"Obviously, those of us here in the United States know what it's like. We have gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves.
"And whenever these kinds of attacks happened, we've always been able to count on the French people to stand with us. They have been an extraordinary counter-terrorism partner.And we intend to be there with them in that same fashion."
With files from the Associated Press, Reuters
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