Over 130 killed in Paris terror attacks

A series of attacks targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots killed more than 130 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II. 

President Francois Hollande condemned it as terrorism and pledged that France would stand firm against its foes. The worst carnage was at a concert venue called Bataclan music hall, hosting an American rock band, where scores of people were held hostage and attackers ended the standoff by detonating explosive belts. 

Police who stormed the building encountered a bloody scene of horror inside. When the attacks were over, eight attackers were dead, seven of them in suicide explosions, one killed by security forces in the music venue, a state spokeswoman said. She could not exclude the possibility that some attackers might still be at large. Authorities are searching for possible accomplices. The death toll was at least 130 people at six sites, including the national stadium and a circle of popular nightspots. 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Jihadists on Twitter immediately praised them and criticised France’s military operations against Islamic State extremists. Witnesses in the concert hall described hearing attackers say “Allahu Akbar.”