Terrorists wielding AK-47s and throwing explosives executed at least 118 people inside a Paris concert hall at the Bataclan late Friday night, in a massacre that followed coordinated attacks that killed at least 40 more people, rocking the French capital, prompting President Francois Hollande to close the entire nation's borders and declare a state of emergency. The death toll has increased from 158 to 200 according to latest reports.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists all looked young, they walked into the theater and started shooting at people like they were birds. He said they stood at the back of the theatre in black clothing without covering their faces with any mask. They kept shooting and reloading for about 10 to 15 minutes.
The victims had gathered to see the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal, and a handful managed to escape through the roof and wherever they could.
They said the killers shouted "This is for Syria!" and "Alahu Akhbar!" as they cut down patrons from a balcony before the band took the stage.
The band members are said to be safe.
People said when the police arrived, and the terrorists knew they were cornered, they all blew themselves up with suicide vests. 4 of the terrorists killed themselves at the Bataclan, 3 were killed at the stadium while 1 was killed at a café.
Another eye witness said:
“It looked like a battlefield, there was blood everywhere, there were bodies everywhere," Coupris said. "I was at the far side of the hall when shooting began. There seemed to be at least two gunmen. They shot from the balcony.
“I saw my final hour unfurl before me, I thought this was the end. I thought, 'I’m finished, I’m finished,'" he said.
The terrorists reportedly used AK-47s, grenades and suicide vests to carry out this horrible event.
French authorities said all five attackers were "neutralized, one arrested and more could be at large in the combined attacks. Now they are trying to identify people who may have helped the terrorists.
As many as six other attacks occurred, involving shootings and at least two suicide bombers, including one who detonated near the city's Stade de France soccer stadium where the French and German national teams were playing in a match attended by Hollande. The French President was at the stadium to watch the match and was securely removed without any incident.
The death toll from all of the attacks is expected to rise.
“There are lots of dead people," said a witness believed to have been at the bar of a restaurant that was the scene of one attack. "It’s pretty horrific to be honest. I was at the back of the bar. I couldn’t see anything. I heard gunshots. People dropped to the ground. We put a table over our heads to protect us."
The French President has given authority to the French Police to knock on doors of Parisians and interrogate whoever they think might be a suspect.
Update:
The Police shot 1 of the attackers in the Bataclan theater and he blew up when he fell to the ground, 3 others blew themselves up in the theater.
3 blew themselves up at the stadium and 1 blew himself up at a café.
The death toll has risen to 200 while 80 people are reported injured.
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