Daesh claims deadly Paris attacks termed 'act of war'

PARIS: At least 160 people lost their lives including children and scores others injured following multiple explosions and shootings that took place almost simultaneously in different parts of Paris on Friday night. Some are describing these attacks in Paris as deadliest since World War II.

Militant group Daesh, also known as, Islamic State has claimed credit for orchestrating the attacks at six different places in the French capital.

The terrorists attacked soft targets like concert hall, bars, restaurants and football stadium.

Some 300 people were hospitalised following the deadly attacks of whom 80 are in "critical" condition, the city´s hospital authority said Saturday.

Fifty-three people have already been discharged, the authority said in a statement, adding that the city´s hospital system had the "necessary capacity" to handle the influx of patients from Friday´s attacks.

French president François Hollande termed the attacks across Paris ‘an act of war’ and declared ‘a state of emergency’ across France.

He said 8 gunmen and suicide bombers executed the attacks which he said were planned from outside.

Hollande announced to seal French borders in a bid to stop the attackers from fleeing and raised the security level to its highest.

Later, French president François Hollande visited the attacked concert hall and while speaking to media persons said France is going to fight the terrorists. “France will be ruthless in its fights against terrorists,” he said.

Describing the attacks as barbaric, he said the French nation will continue to stand united and firm against the terrorists.

At least 100 people were killed at packed Bataclan concert hall where attackers had held dozens of people hostage. The police stormed the concert hall and ended the hostage situation. At least three attackers were killed at the concert hall.

A rock band from the US was performing at the concert hall when the attackers stormed the venue.

Earlier, a series of powerful blasts were heard in the city and two of them occurred near a stadium where a football match between France and Germany was being played.

French police said the attackers executed two suicide attacks and one explosion through a bomb.

Three people were killed in an explosion outside the Stade de France north of the capital, police said, during a match between Germany and France.

Spectators flooded the pitch as news of the attacks spread. Organisers started evacuating the stadium by three doors.

Another attack was reported at the Petit Cambodge restaurant, not far from the Bataclan venue.

Stunned onlookers had begun to emerge from nearby bars, while many others continued to eat their meals in restaurants, apparently unaware of the carnage that had taken place only a few metres away.

President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced that a crisis cell had been set up.

Three-Day Mourning

France will hold a minute’s silence on Monday for the victims of a wave of deadly attacks on Paris, the office of Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Saturday.

The observance will take place at midday (1100 GMT), and flags will be lowered to half mast, it said.

France is also observing three days of mourning over the carnage.

President Barack Obama Paris attacks are attacks on humanity

US President Barack Obama in his media briefing termed the attacks on French people as ‘attacks on humanity, and universal values that we share’. However, he said those values will endure far beyond these attacks.

“We stand prepared to provide whatever assistance French people need,” said Obama. “This is a heart breaking situation ….we have been in contact with French officials to convey our condolences,” said Obama.

He said French people have been an extraordinary counter-terrorism partner of the US.

British PM Cameron pledges help

British Prime Minister David Cameron expressing ‘shock’ over the Paris attacks said his country will do whatever it can to extend help to France.

"I am shocked by events in Paris tonight," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help."

EU calls for minute’s silence

The European Union called for a minute´s silence to be held Monday for the victims of a series of attacks in Paris.

"We Europeans will all remember November 13th 2015 as a European day of mourning," an EU joint statement said.

"All Europeans are invited to join in one minute of silence in memory of the victims at noon on Monday, November 16th," the statement continued, referring to noon in Brussels, or 1100 GMT.


Eiffel Tower closed indefinitely

The Eiffel Tower will be closed indefinitely following the wave of deadly attacks in Paris, the iconic landmark´s operator said on Saturday.

The company decided to close the monument -- normally visited by up to 20,000 people a day -- after Friday´s attacks. It will remain closed "until further notice," she added.

Belgium Opens Terrorism Probe

Belgium has opened a terrorism probe linked to the attacks in Paris as its police raided a neighborhood in the capital Brussels and arrested several suspects, prosecutors said Saturday.

"The investigation is opened into a charge of terrorism and participation in the activities of a terrorist group," the federal prosecutor´s office said.

(Geo/AFP)