Multiple terror attacks in Paris leaving scores dead, France under emergency
Multiple terror attacks in Paris leaving scores dead, France under emergency
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Multiple terror attacks in Paris leaving scores dead, France under emergency

Many world leaders including US President Barack Obama have extended help to the French government

At least 127 people were killed and 200 injured in Paris after unidentified gunmen opened fire at six locations including busy restaurants, bars and a concert hall, late on Friday night, France 24 reports.

The report also adds that:

The apparently coordinated gun and bomb assault came as the country, a founder member of the US-led coalition waging air strikes against Islamic State group fighters in Syria and Iraq, was on high alert for terrorist attacks ahead of a global climate conference due to open later this month.

The Paris police chief has said that all the attackers involved are believed to be dead and authorities are searching for accomplices in the attack.

Around 4.30 pm on Saturday, Reuters tweeted saying that ISIS had claimed responsibiliy for the attacks on Paris. Some hours after the attack, the French government had said it believed that ISIS was behind the attack.

There were also reports of a suicide blast near the Stade de France, which has resulted in France declaring a national state of emergency, for the first time since 1958, and closing its borders.

At least 100 people are reported to have died at the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris alone after a hostage-like situation.

Julien Pierce, a Europe 1 journalist who was inside the concert hall, described what he saw to the BBC:

"Several armed men came into the concert. Two or three men, not wearing masks, came in with what looked like Kalashnikovs and fired blindly on the crowd. It lasted between 10 and 15 minutes. It was extremely violent and there was panic. The attackers had enough time to reload at least three times. They were very young."

CNN later reported that SWAT units stormed the concert hall and killed two of the attackers and rescued at least 100 hostages.

While it is still unclear who the gunmen were, The Telegraph reports that those responsible are believed to have been dressed in black and used Kalashnikovs and hand grenades. The deputy mayor of Paris said it is too early to conclude that attacks are coordinated acts of terror but it "looks that way".

Many world leaders including US President Barack Obama have extended help to the French government.

The Vatican has also condemned the incident. "We condemn (it) in the most radical way together with the pope and all those who love peace," Father Federico Lombardi, spokesman of Pope Francis, said in a statement on Saturday. 

Paris residents have been asked to stay indoors and about 1,500 military personnel are currently on the streets of the city.

As ISIS takes responsibility for the attacks in Paris, a Twitter user sought to remind the world that the West and other people should stop blaming immigrants and instead understand why the refugees are fleeing in the first place. Dan Holloway's tweet, which was out last night, has been retweeted over 57,000 times.

Here’s a look at the how ISIS came about in the first place. A short video that explains how ISIS has its roots in the rebels who fought agains Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and before it became the ISIS, it received support and training from the US. It has been uploaded by Vox. 

This is a developing story. More updates are awaited

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