After an emergency security meeting, French President Francois Hollande said the death toll had risen to 127 after the string of near-simultaneous attacks, which he said were an “act of war” orchestrated by the Islamic State group.
Advertisement
In a statement issued online on Saturday morning, Islamic State said that “eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles” conducted a “blessed attack on…” Police said they shot and killed the other assailant.
Police are hunting for potential accomplices to eight attackers who were killed as at least six sites in Paris were attacked in rapid succession.
The Germany team spent the night at the Stade de France after the match rather than take the risk of driving through the French capital to their hotel following deadly attacks. I lay down on the floor.
The assault also left at least 250 wounded, 100 of them seriously. “They cried, ‘It’s Hollande’s fault.’ I heard one of the shooters shout, ‘Allahu Akbar, ‘” Sylvain told The Associated Press.
“The big question on everyone’s mind is, were these attackers, if they turn out to be connected to one of the groups in Syria, were they homegrown terrorists or were they returning fighters from having served” with the Islamic State group, Jenkins said. He spoke on condition that his full name not be used out of concern for his safety.
If ISIS role in the attacks is certain, it could be indicative of a new and more structured effort by the group to project its influence well beyond the borders of the territory it holds in Iraq and Syria, says CBS News’ Khaled Wassef, who monitors jihadist groups’ activities closely.
U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a global chorus of solidarity with France and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the “despicable attacks” and demanded the release of the hostages. “The perpetrators of these heinous attacks must be apprehended and brought to justice.” .
The Paris carnage came within days of attacks claimed by Islamic State militants on a Shi’ite Muslim district of southern Beirut in Lebanon, and a Russian tourist aircraft which crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Twenty people died in those attacks, including three shooters.
Suspicion quickly turned to Islamic extremists as the mayhem unfolded.
Advertisement
He called for “vigilance” from the public, stressing that the fight against terrorism was dependent on maintaining the trust and confidence of the UK’s communities to provide police with information about suspicious behaviour.
