Three explosions were heard at a football match between France and Germany at the Stade de France, Paris' main stadium. The first of these explosions was from a suicide bomber, who detonated his vest at the entrance to the stadium, attempting to gain entry. Allegedly he planned to cause a panic inside the stadium, leading to an evacuation, at which stage two other suicide bombers would detonate. Due to this plan failing however, his accomplices detonated their respective bombs in close proximity to the stadium.
The French President was inside the venue but was removed from the facility as soon as the attacks began. Spectators in the stadium were moved onto the field in order to maintain their safety, eventually being able to leave when the situation outside was deemed safe enough. In a stroke of luck, only one person was killed by these attacks besides the suicide bombers themselves.
Multiple shootings also took place in the city as well, the first of these being when multiple shooters began firing into the Le Carillon, a bar and café, before moving towards a Cambodian restaurant, Le Petit Cambodge, and opening fire. According to witnesses, one of the gunmen yelled "Allah Akbar" and "this is for Syria". After a barrage of shots were fired, the assailants escaped in two vehicles. It is reported that 15 people were killed at these two locales.
Shortly following this, a shooter with a machine gun began firing short bursts into the outdoor seating area of Café Bonne Bière, close to Italian restaurant La Casa Nostra. The perpertrator was able to kill five individuals, leaving another eight injured. Four minutes later, two gunmen opened fired on the outdoor section of another restaurant, the La Bell Équipe, before escaping. Sadly, 19 people died due to this attack, and according to BBC News, another nine were severely injured.
Again, another four minutes later, an assailant detonated his suicide vest at the Comptoir Voltaire café. He was the only person to die at this location, however he left fifteen people injured, one of them, in a critical condition.
Meanwhile at the Le Bataclan Theater, three gunmen entered the premises during a rock concert where American band Eagles of Death Metal were performing to a crowd of 1,500. The attackers threw grenades, and fired into the crowd for 20 minutes, before searching the building for those who were hiding. They then proceeded to take between 60 and 100 people hostage, killing patrons one by one before French police stormed the building. Police have stated that 89 people were killed prior to and during the confrontation. When the gunmen were overwhelmed by police, two detonated their suicide vests, the third's vest exploded when he fell to the ground after being shot by police.
French President , François Hollande, scheduled emergency discussions with the national cabinet before making a speech to his nation.
A State of Emergency was also declared, awarding the government more powers to deal with the situation. 1500 French military personnel were officially deployed onto the streets of Paris. France has also closed its borders, highways, ports and airports, a clear statement about a possible change in migration policy.
The Islamic State has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, with one of the terrorists involved openly stating that he was a member of the group. Many Islamic State sympathisers also expressed their support over social media.
Hugh McFarlane
Updates
- 9:30am (Sydney Time) All of city in lock down.
- 9:38am Death toll rises from 40 to 60.
- 9:38am Gunman from Cambodian Restaurant said to be on the run.
- 9:47am U.S. President Barack Obama makes speech dedicating his nation to bringing justice to those responsible. Says France is America's 'closest ally'.
- 9:53am French President François Hollande makes address to the nation, calling on 'everyone to be responsible.' 'Terrorist wants us to be filled with fear'. 'Overcome the terrorists.'
- 10:10am Gunmen at the Le Bataclan Theater said to be searching premises for people hiding.
- 10:14am Parisians are said to be scared by keeping calm according to those on the ground.
- 10:16am Those inside the Le Bataclan Theater reporting that hostage takers are killing hostages 'one by one'.
- 10:18am Military and police are said to be conducting operations and moving inside Concert Hall.
- 10:34am Closed borders already having an effect with flights being turned away from Paris.
- 10:40am Police storm Le Bataclan Theater.
- 10:45am Paris taxi drivers switch off meters, taking city goers home for free.
- 10:58am Police operation at the Le Bataclan Theater complete, three hostage takers killed. Unknown amount of hostages freed.
- 11:05am French Football Federation reports that 3 people have been killed in stadium attacks.
- 11:05am Band members from the Le Bataclan Theater said to have escaped unharmed.
- 11:23am French Police report that approximately 100 people are dead in the Le Bataclan Theater alone.
- 11:36am President François Hollande heads to Le Bataclan Theater in order to deliver press conference.
- 11:38am 1500 French soldiers drafted onto the streets of Paris.
- 12:05pm Fears that gunmen who attacked the Cambodian restaurant might still be at large.
- 12:19pm Islamic State officially claims responsibility for the attacks.
- 5:01pm Death toll rises to 158.
- 5:02pm Police report that they have killed 8 terrorist across city.