Attacks in Paris - level 3
A state of emergency has been declared in France after at least 120 people were killed in gun and bomb attacks across Central Paris. President Hollande called the almost simultaneous attacks a horror and vowed to wage a merciless fight against terrorism. The French leader also imposed border controls and deployed 1,500 extra troops following the incidents.
The attacks started at around 9:30 on Friday night after blasts were heard near the Stade de France in the north of the city. Police confirmed these were three simultaneous bombings.
An hour later, there were reports of a shooting at Le Carillon Café Bar and Le Petit Cambodge restaurant in the 10th arrondissement around 5 miles away from the stadium. Fourteen people were killed in the incidents.
The deadliest attack took place at the Bataclan Concert Hall at around 11 p.m. when four gunmen stormed an Eagles of Death Metal concert. They began to fire indiscriminately into the crowd, throwing explosives as they went. One of the attackers reportedly shouted “God is great” in Arabic during the massacre. Dozens of hostages were taken inside the venue. A short time, later security forces launched an assault on the theater. The two attackers were killed after detonating explosive belts. More than 80 concert goers died at the venue.
Less than a mile away, eighteen diners at La Belle Equipe were shot dead during another attack. Five people were also killed in La Casa Nostra Pizzeria in the 11th arrondissement.
Police say there were eight attackers in total. All of them are now dead. Seven are believed to have detonated suicide vests. These are the deadliest attacks in Europe since the 2004 Madrid bombings.
Leaders across the world have condemned the attacks with US President Obama branding the incidents an attack on all humanity.
Difficult words: simultaneous (happening at the same time), vow (to promise), wage (to carry on), merciless (showing no mercy – forgiveness), impose (to order), troops (soldiers or police), blast (an explosion), arrondissement (an administrative district in Paris), storm (to attack), indiscriminately (without thinking), venue (a place for concerts or meetings), assault (to attack), condemn (to disagree with), brand (to call).