PARIS ATTACK: 129 Dead, 352 Injured (99 Seriously), ‘Bloodbath’ Inside Bataclan; French Airstrikes In Syria

UPDATED: 12:50 am PT (9:50 AM MON Paris)

• Coordinating with French authorities, Belgian officials have made multiple arrests; police and witnesses first noticed Belgian license plates on one of the attacker cars (a rental car).  US source says the attacks were hatched in Belgium.

• France has now launched multiple attacks on Islamic State positions in Syria, with 10 fighter jets deployed and 20 bombs dropped, according to the French Defense Ministry.

• Multiple assassins remain at large; it now appears that at least one arrived into France or surrounding nations via the refugee immigration wave.  The mass of migration appears to have been the perfect cover, and possibly an ISIS entry method: Ahmad al Mohammad reportedly entered through the Greek island of Leros on October 3rd, among a rush of Syrian refugees issued emergency access.

• It now appears that the attacks involved three teams executing across 7 attack points, including multiple restaurants, Stade de France soccer stadium, and Le Bataclan concert hall.

• At Le Bataclan, the body count is currently 87, with many critically injured.  Late Friday/early Saturday, attendees were mass-murdered by Kalashnikov rifles during an Eagles of Death Metal performance. “It was a blood bath… it lasted for 10 minutes.  Ten horrific minutes where everybody was on the floor covering their head,” stated Julien Pearce, a show attendee who climbed onto the stage and was able to escape through an exit.

• Le Bataclan was raided by French police and special forces; three gunman died, two killed themselves after detonating suicide belts and one was shot down by police.

• Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, also a member of Eagles of Death Metal) was not at the gig, as he had previously decided not to join the European tour.

• At the Stade de France, site of the France v. Germany soccer game, there were at least three explosions but security was already tightened (partly due to the attendance of  president François Hollande, who was successfully ushered away).

• 7 attackers are dead either by self-detonation or shot by police. 1 attacker escaped through the border to Belgium, even though he was stopped and suspected by police. ISIS has taken credit. Abdelhamid Abaaoud planned the attacks. 

• This is being counted as the biggest attack on France since WWII; post-violence revenge could devolve into warfare or French-led attacks.  Separately, Obama and Putin have reportedly discussed next steps given rising (and effective) ISIS attacks worldwide.

photo of an empty Bataclan; contributed by Xavier Delamare

 Couple the night of the attack – please update us that these two are ok!

A summary of the situation.

I. Initial Reaction; Statements from Leadership.

François Hollande addressed nation early Saturday morning after declaring a state of emergency in France following the massive terrorist attack.  International borders were immediately sealed.  At Le Bataclan, site of a concert by Eagles of Death Metal, authorities raided the facility after several hours; the scene was described as a “bloodbath” by one witness at the show.  “It is a horror,” Hollande stated.

President Obama has urged Americans to stand strong and lent his moral support, though nothing close to the vows for revenge issued by Hollande.  Separately, Obama has met with world leaders, most notably Putin, and discussed the situation with Hollande.  “This is an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share,” Obama remarked from the White House, while vowing to chase any “terrorist networks” responsible.  “Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong,” Obama continued.

“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.”

Separately, the attack on Paris demonstrates an effective ISIS, with the downing of a Russian aircraft also a victory for the extreme Islamic organization.

II. France Strikes Back

France has already launched airstrikes against multiple Islamic State positions in Syria, with the French Defense Ministry reporting 10 fighter jets dropped 20 total bombs.  ISIS has vowed to step up attacks on France if the bombings continue.

III. ISIS Takes Credit

“We know who these terrorists are,” Hollande initially stated. “These terrorists want to make us afraid and seize us with fear… This is a nation that defends itself.”

ISIS celebrations started on Twitter early Saturday morning (#parisburns); the organization claimed credit soon thereafter.  The attacks on Paris closely follows the drone-based assassination of ISIS leader ‘Jihadi John,’ though it’s unclear if there’s a connection.

Politicians and the media were dancing around extreme Islamic ties, though this had the markings of extreme Islamic terrorism early on.  Multiple reports pointed to the gunmen screaming “Allahu akbar” (God is great), “It’s for Syria,” and other epithets.  Kalashnikov rifles were also reportedly used in the attack.

IV. References to Charlie Hebdo.

References to the radical Islamic-led attack on the offices of satirical paper Charlie Hebdo were quickly drawn.  That attack, in January of this year, involved the gunning down of multiple writers and staff members by Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, members of a Yemeni Al-Qaeda branch and Islamic extremists.  Members of the French police were also killed in that attack, billed as revenge for a cover illustrating and mocking Muhammed and strict Islamic law.

Over the weekend, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve urged better progress on post-Hebdo enforcement mandates, including tighter security controls, exchange of intelligence between EU nations, and tighter firearm regulations.

V. Situation at Le Bataclan, site of show featuring Eagles of Death Metal.

The attacks occurred at a show for the Eagles of Death Metal (from Southern California); the mass killings started several songs into the set, with the band apparently escaping backstage fairly quickly.  Radio journalist Julien Pearce told CNN that roughly 20 people were initially gunned down inside Le Bataclan arts center, while describing a ‘bloodbath’; that number has now swelled to 87.

Shortly after 1 am French time Saturday morning, reports emerged that French police (and possibly special forces) raided the concert hall, killing attackers and pulling out hostages.

Initially, Eagles were searching for all members of their touring crew.  It is now known that at least one member of the support staff has died, while members of the group itself have all survived.  The group’s location on stage made rear egress easy.

VI. Situation at Stade de France.

The situation at the Stade de France was less dire, though a small number have been counted dead.  Explosions outside the stadium initially confused attendees, many of whom ran onto the field in fear.  François Hollande was attending but was safely ushered away.

VII. Restaurant Attacks.

One of several restaurants attacked by gunman is Le Carillon, in Paris’ 10th arrondissement.  One or more gunmen opened fire in or around the restaurant; 40 reported dead in that attack.

VIII. No Credible Threats Against the US.

The United States has not received credible threats of an attack, though major metropolitan areas including New York remain on high alert.