INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 'More than 100 dead' in Paris attacks

Rescue workers help a woman outside the Bataclan theater in Paris, Friday. (AP)

As of Friday, November 13, 2015

PARIS (AP) — A series of unprecedented attacks on popular night spots killed more than 100 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II, officials said. President Francois Hollande condemned it as a terrorist attack and pledged that France would stand firm against its foes.

The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting an American rock band, where scores of people were held hostage and attackers hurled explosives at their captives. Police who stormed the building, killing two attackers, encountered a bloody scene of horror inside.

Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced that he was closing the country's borders. The violence spread fear through the city and exceeded the horrors of the Charlie Hebdo attack just 10 months ago.

Paris police officials said security officials had launched an assault on the concert hall, killing at least two attackers. One described "carnage" inside the building, saying the attackers tossed explosives at the hostages.

In addition to the deaths at the concert hall, a police official said 11 people were killed in a Paris restaurant in the 10th arrondissement and other officials said at least three people died when bombs went off outside a stadium.

All of the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to be publicly named in the quickly moving investigation.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, and no clear picture of how many attackers were involved and if any were on the run. Jihadists on Twitter immediately praised the attack and criticised France's military operations against Islamic State extremists.

Hollande, who had to be evacuated from the stadium when the bombs went off outside, said in a televised address that the nation would stand firm and united.

"This is a terrible ordeal that again assails us," he said. "We know where it comes from, who these criminals are, who these terrorists are."

U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters in Washington, called the attacks on Paris "outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians" and vowed to do whatever it takes to help bring the perpetrators to justice. He called the attacks a "heartbreaking situation" and an "attack on all of humanity."

John 8 years, 5 months ago

One hundred and twenty seven people killed in the attack. Mostly young people who was just about their business enjoying life. Isis have claimed responsibility for the attack and one of the attackers whose suicide vest did not detonate was carrying a Syrian passport. It is Isis intention to disrupt normal life in civil society and to provoke a showdown with the world's superpowers. Paris that is known for love and romance is being turned into a war zone.

Emac 8 years, 5 months ago

Sad,sad,sad

digimagination 8 years, 5 months ago

Mark my words, there is now going to be an all-out no holds barred war on Isis. Many innocents will die but they will simple be referred to as collateral damage.

Cobalt 8 years, 5 months ago

Honestly, I blame president Barak Obama.

Ever since he pulled U.S.Troops out of the MIddle East and surrounding Arab nations such as Yemen and Pakistan, terrorist organizations have been allowed to flourish. As a result, terrorist cells operating in other parts of the world now have the financial capacity to carry out these heinous attacks.

Ironically, France was one of the countries that refused to join the coalition of troops in Afganistan after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the U.S. Maybe now they are rethinking their original position.

kairosmatt 8 years, 5 months ago

France had troops in Afghanistan from the beginning. It's the never justified War in Iraq they did not support, and said war is what directly led to ISIS. Obama certainly has his share of international screw ups, but the problems do pre date his admin (although he hasn't fixed them either)

Alex_Charles 8 years, 5 months ago

so two wars started by Pres. Bush jr. is Obama's fault? Hr ended a war that was bleeding the US economy and caused gas prices to hike. This isn't one Presidents fault, this is the collective responsibility of decades of American Foreign policy that time and time again blows up in their face.

SP 8 years, 5 months ago

........... Nobody should be surprised! What did Europe think would happen? ............

European countries allowing unknown thousands of "Arab refugees" to enter without screening was a sure recipe for welcoming terrorism activity.

How could they even have considered letting unidentified people from terror related war zones enter their countries on foot that would not have been allowed to enter otherwise?

Germany will very soon suffer the same fate only worse, after making the absolute stupidest, asinine policy of accepting 800,000 Arab refugees annually.

These people are accustomed to war, Jihad and terrorism as a normal part of everyday life. They will not simply conform by crossing borders.

Expect terror attacks in any number of European countries. Europe as we know it is done!

Similarly, Bahamas has the same issue with "Haitian refugees" routinely attacking police and immigration officials, stealing ambulances, rioting and vandalizing police cars.

French citizens did not attack and bomb the French. And Bahamians do not riot, attack police & immigration officers, vandalize police cars and steal ambulances.

Alex_Charles 8 years, 5 months ago

based on your logic if they are accustomed to war, why would they leave a war torn country and seek asylum to have a better life? and you also say "These people" as if to blanket them with the stereotype of being terrorists. That is a rather ignorant stance to take. Many of these people protested for a proper democracy during the Arab spring and was executed in the streets by the Assad regime. So they started shooting back at a government that refused to relinquish power like a proper democracy. Your point comes from ignorance. There are terrorists and jihadists in the mix that is true. But to paint all of them under that brush is asinine. and to suggest bahamian don't attack police is hilarious. Have you been watching the news? do you consider persons that shoot at police officers non-bahamian?

This was probably a giant waste of my time writing this as either you won't read it or you'll go straight to personal attacks on my character. meaning you know your position is unfavorable. either way hasty generalizations and demonizing a group of people does not solve problems. It creates fear which then creates xenophobia, hatred and perpetuates the same cycle of nonsense you purport to be against.

sheeprunner12 8 years, 5 months ago

Yep ................ we have our own brand of domestic terrorism in Nassau ........ turf war, guns & drugs and the protected thugs who keep the political elite and numbers bosses safe and rich ................. cannot wait to hear Perrys Crime Plan 30.0

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago

Meanwhile, Lester Cox and others are pushing hard for the licensing of Bahamian banks. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the first group to jump wholesale into this new industry will be the illegal gaming people. We have no idea where this illegal gaming money came from, how it is being generated and we do not know who the beneficiaries are, this is the status as of TODAY.

One media loving gaming boss is rumoured to be in a legal dispute with a former partner who funny enough also happens to be a convicted drug dealer. His second partner (or former) partner is presently under indictment in the US for human smuggling. Lester Cox said publicly, nobody in the world "cares about what we do in our local banks". Five words for Mr Cox, "money laundering", "terrorism financing", and "blacklisting". Recall Obie Wilchombe's surprise at how much money the webshops were generating, ~"more than we ever estimated". Lightbulb! Wendy Craig needs to send another letter to the paper so that Perry Christie can become aware of these terms that his Minister of Finance should have already acquainted him with. Money laundering is real and extremely lucrative .

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