A man places a candle in front of the Carillon cafe in Paris Saturday Nov. 14, 2015, a day after over 120 people were killed in a series of shooting and explosions. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Source: Time
Terror returned to Paris for the second time in a year Friday night when at least 127 people died in a series of brutal terrorist attacks at various locations around the city. The militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks early Saturday, praising them as “miracles.” French President François Hollande also blamed ISIS, calling the attacks “an act of war” and vowing to retaliate against the group.
Here’s what we know so far.
How did this start?
At about 9:45 p.m. local time, reports surfaced of a shooting in a popular area packed with bars and restaurants. Shortly afterwards, explosions were reported outside a stadium where French President François Hollande was watching a soccer game between France and Germany. Meanwhile, shots were reported in the Bataclan concert venue where an American band was playing, and soon it was revealed that multiple attackers had taken hostages inside.
How many attacks were there?
There appear to have been attacks at six sites around the city, but three major attacks have emerged as the most deadly:
- At least 100 hostages were taken in the Bataclan concert venue, during a performance by the American band, Eagles of Death Metal (the band was reported to be safe, although it was not clear whether all the crew managed to escape.)
- At least 11 people died in shootings in two restaurants, Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon, which are right across the street from each other (it is not immediately clear which victims were in which establishments.)
- Three explosions were reported at a bar outside the Stade de France to the north of the city, where thousands were gathered to watch France play Germany, and at least two are reported to be suicide bombings.
Shots were also fired outside La Belle Equipe bar, in the 11th arrondissement. There was another shooting at La Casa Nostra pizzeria, just south of the two restaurants.
What are the casualties?
By early Saturday local time authorities put the death toll at 127, of which about 100 were killed during the hostage situation inside the Bataclan theater. About 200 others were injured in the attacks, authorities said, including 80 in serious condition.
A total of eight attackers were confirmed dead, seven of them through suicide bombings, Paris prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre told the Associated Press early Saturday. However, authorities are reportedly still searching for accomplices that may be at large.
The latest attack in Paris is not an isolated case. It is only a part of an ongoing series that will be seen repeatedly to the delight of those who support it privately but hypocritically mouth condemnation publicly.
The root cause is an intolerant creed which aims at world conquest and domination by violent means.
Recent reports from ‘moderate’ Indonesia indicate that attacks on Churches and Christians are on the upswing leading to the destruction of many places of worship and the death of some Christians. Attacks are instigated by imams, whose voices are authoritative, with the connivance of law enforcement and a government which preaches secularism but advances the cause and course of islam.
Permission can only be given for the construction or renovation of a new church if 60 households of another faith, presumably muslims, and the regency or the municipal authority confirm the application. Meeting such a requirement in a country which wants to stamp out all vestiges of Christianity can be more than a herculean task.
While the world remains silent to these crimes, it swoons over invaders in the guise of refugees some of whom carried out the Paris attack and are poised to do more damage until the fools bow to blackmail.
There is no demarcation between a ‘moderate’ and a terrorist or an extremist in muhammadanism.
Just as a pointer. The Paris story broke out over 24 hours ago. It has generated no interest at all from bloggers on this site, most of whom are muhammadans. Compare that to what happened when a teenager was handcuffed and escorted off school property on the suspicion of being in possession of an explosive device. Within hours this site was inundated with condemnation which ran for days non-stop. In 24 hours there were not less than 30,000 twits in support of the youngster. Even though his contraption was later judged to be a fraud, nothing was retracted. The condemnation went on continuously.