This post is being continually updated. Please press ‘refresh’ to read the latest developments.
UPDATE (3:17pm AEDT): French police say all of the terrorists behind the attacks in Paris are believed to be dead.
At least 153 people have died in a series of horrifying terror attacks in Paris.
Around 112 people are believed to have died at the Bataclan concert hall in eastern Paris, and about 40 have been killed in other areas of the French capital during the coordinated attacks.
A French radio correspondent who was in the hall at the time, Julien Pearce, called the scene “a bloodbath” and said he had seen 20 to 25 bodies inside the venue.
“We lied down on the floor not to get hurt. It was a huge panic,” he said.
He described two men dressed in black shooting AK-47s, and said the gunfire lasted 10 to 15 minutes, sending the crowd into a panic.
Other escaped hostages told CNN the terrorists calmly murdered hostages at Bataclan theatre one by one, execution-style.
One source told CNN that at least eight hostage-takers are involved.
According to CNN, on attacker was captured near Bataclan on Friday night. He claimed to be recruited by ISIS, along with three others coming from Syria.
A CNN producer and BFMTV later reported that SWAT teams had stormed the Bataclan concert hall — killing two attackers, ending the siege and bringing out at least 100 hostages from the theatre hall.
About 1,500 military personnel have been deployed across the city, BBC News reports.
Elsewhere in the city on Friday night, at least one gunman opened fire in a bar — using Kalashnikov rifles to gun down civilians at Petit Cambodge restaurant in the 10th District.
That attack in central Paris left at least four people dead.
Separate reports suggest that two coordinated explosions occurred near the Stade de France Stadium, where France and Germany were in the middle of a friendly football match.
The explosions, which killed at least three people and have been linked to a suicide bomber, are audible in video footage posted to Twitter.
There are also reports of shootings around Les Halles shopping centre and the Louvre.
Twitter reactions to the atrocities in Paris. Post continues after gallery:
French president François Hollande, who was at the Stade de France Stadium at the time of the explosion, was escorted back to the interior ministry after the explosions.
In a public address on Friday night, Hollande confirmed that the French government believed the incidents were terrorist attacks.
“This is a terrible hardship which is striking us. We know where this is coming, who these terrorists are,” Hollande said. “In such difficult times, I have thoughts for the victims, for there are numerous victims.”
Warning Parisians to stay indoors, he declared a state of emergency.
He also said he would be focused on closing the French border to ensure nobody could enter to commit further acts of terror — marking the first time France’s borders have been closed since WWII.
In a tweet, Hollande said: “Faced with terror, this is a nation that knows how to defend itself, how to mobilize its forces and once again, knows how to overcome the terrorists.”
Footage from Paris (via YouTube):
US President Barack Obama called the attacks an “outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians”.
“We stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance the government and the people of France need to respond,” he said in a press conference.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to hold a press conference in Perth later this morning, ABC News reports.
According to various media reports, ISIS and its supporters are tweeting the hashtag #celebrating in relation to the horrifying attacks.
Meanwhile, kind-hearted Parisians are offering safe shelter for those in the city using the hashtag #PorteOuverte, which translates to “door open”.
The attack comes following tightened security measures in France ahead of a global climate conference that starts in two weeks.
In January this year, two gunmen attacked the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 and wounding 11.
*Feature image: Twitter. Original image by Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP
We hope and pray for their safety.
Support is available for Australians with friends and family in Paris:
The Australian Embassy phone number in Paris is +33140593300 for those trying to contact friends and family in the region .
24-HOUR CONSULAR EMERGENCY HELPLINE
Within Australia: 1300 555 135
Outside Australia: +61 2 6261 3305
SMS: +61 421 269 080
Website: Getting help overseas http://smartraveller.gov.au/help/
Top Comments
Here's how to sum it up in one sentence. Islamic terrorists kill 140 innocent civilians in the name of religion.
Wake up people, we are at war with ISIS. They do not care who they kill in the name of their religion, they are evil.
You mean Islamic extremists who believe that they will receive a heavenly reward if they die for their faith and become martyrs, much like other religions teach. Of course there will be retaliation and this to an extent suits their narrative of them against the west. If they were taught the reality that once they die they will decompose in the ground and that's that it may be different. As we've seen throughout the centuries, the promise of a heavenly reward has been the basis of much killing and misery
A soccer friendly between France and Germany. German fans possibly would have died in this too. Germany is one of the few countries letting in muslim refugees. One way to p... off the people who are trying to help you! Smart thinking 99! So it seems if you are against them they kill you, if you help them they kill you. This is the irony of all this, is that a while back everyone was too terrified to speak out or criticise Islam in anyway but now people are speaking out because people realised you get killed regardless. So the Islamic extremists are actually perpetuating what they didn't want, people speaking out against them.
I know it is also difficult for moderate muslims who are just trying to go about their business and not get involved in any of this, but moderate muslims have really got to start speaking out loudly, I realise some are saying these attacks are wrong, but it's more than that they need to show they are making an effort to assimilate, such as not demanding halal, not demanding to be allowed to be veiled, not demanding workplaces give them time out to pray, not walking out on the Australian anthem etc, because of all of these things show that they aren't aligned to the culture that they have now adopted, and that they actually reject our culture, so for people to reject our culture shows that it is n't too much of a leap for them to do something against us. Of course on the other hand they can keep doing what they are doing and stridently demand all of the above rights, but the problem is it impacts on them, because more and more people like myself (who were formerly pro refugee rights) think we don't want them here, which means it is going to be harder and harder to get their families allowed in here. For those moderate muslims or people born muslims but who aren't all that religious or no longer consider themselves religious and who aren't causing any problems and can't stand the strident ones, but are too scared too speak out, I'm sorry but you are going to have to find a way to speak out, if you are too scared do it through blogs where you can be anonymous. Because if you keep letting the strident ones get their way and enforce halal certification on all of us, etc then all it does is make us feel that you too must be part of the problem. If you are grateful for any opportunities you have received here then write a blog about that too. We really need to hear from you people who are happy to live here and enjoy Australian culture and like aussies, because if we don't it's hard for us to believe that any of you like us or want to get on with us if all we see is terrorism and people being strident about getting their way all the time.
Radical muslims are against everyone who aren't radical muslims.
The people fleeing to Germany as refugees are doing so in attempt to flee the people responsible for the terror attacks. I think it is really important to remember that these terrorists also kill muslims. Muslims who disagree with their barbaric beliefs,who value education etc and they are the refugees that people so often target. They are not the enemy.
Also in regards to you point of Muslim immigrants assimilating I agree 100% however not praying, or wearing a veil, or eating halal meats is not how this can be. you have named some core values of their beliefs and by taking them away from them you are being (almost) as oppressive as those that force those practices in the middle east. What I would love to see is more multicultural clelbrations. My muslim friends come to christmas celebrations, but we also celebrate eid (who doesnt want more celebration in their life!) we share food and socialise with a range of cultures and religion and it is beautiful. Assimilation doesn't mean giving up everything about their culture, it is fitting their customs into a new culture and sharing this to make every bodies lives so much richer
That's exactly how they want us to start to think. They want us to turn against Ordinary Muslims fleeing Syria. These people are the enemy of isis just as much as westerners.
Oh please. The head of the Mosque in Parramatta DID do exactly what you have asked or do you not pay attention to the news?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/...
Vegemite is Halal - oh dear that means Australia is doomed.