Eight Islamic State jihadists carried out the worst attacks ever on French soil, sowing terror at six locations in Paris in a rampage on Friday night that left at least 128 people dead.
Following is a timeline of the four hours of carnage.
- Gunfire, explosions rock the night -
- FRIDAY EVENING: Gunfire and explosions erupt nearly simultaneously in several parts of Paris.
- Between 9:00 and 9:15 pm (2000 GMT and 2015 GMT): Three explosions rock the Stade de France national stadium in the northeast of the French capital during a friendly football match between France and Germany attended by around 80,000 fans. One person is killed as well as three suicide bombers.
- At 9:29 pm, a tweet goes out: "gunfire at Paris10 Bichat", the street in the eastern 10th district where a Cambodian restaurant is located. Fourteen people dining outside are shot dead.
- At 9:38, another tweet: "very worrying noises" at the Rue de Charonne in the 11th district. The shooting lasts two or three minutes, witnesses say. Eighteen people are killed.
- At 9:49, a tweet reports "many, many gunshots at the Bataclan", where a concert by US group Eagles of Death Metal is in full swing. Several hooded gunmen open fire in the hall shouting "Allahu akbar". They take scores of fans hostage.
- In the Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, near the Place de la Republique, five people are shot dead outside a pizza restaurant, La Casa Nostra.
- At the other end of the vast square, on the Boulevard Voltaire, another person is killed, as well as an attacker.
- State of emergency -
- 10:30 pm: President Francois Hollande, after being evacuated from the Stade de France, where he was watching the football match, rushes to the interior ministry to assess the situation.
- Anti-terror prosecutors launch an investigation.
- 11:43 pm: Death toll rises to 35.
- Paris hospitals implement crisis procedures.
- SATURDAY 12:01 am: A clearly emotional Hollande announces "several dozen killed, many wounded", declares a state of emergency.
- 12:15 am: An extraordinary cabinet meeting is held at the president's office.
- Meanwhile, France's three main political parties suspend their campaigns for December regional elections.
- 12:30 am: Armed police storm the Bataclan. At least 82 people are dead inside the venue. Four of the assailants are killed, three by detonating their own explosives belts.
- Security measures -
- Paris city authorities announce that schools and universities will be closed Saturday. School weekend trips are cancelled.
- 1:11 am: Police give estimate of around 100 people killed at the Bataclan.
- Hollande and several ministers go to the Bataclan. The president says France will mount a fight "without mercy" against the jihadists.
- His office announces the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers and says checks will be imposed at France's borders, but they will not be closed.
- The public prosecutor says the death toll from the attacks has risen to 120.
- 4:30 am: Investigators say eight attackers are dead, of whom seven blew themselves up.
- National mourning -
- 9:00 am: Paris is far quieter than a normal Saturday as residents heed warnings from the night before to stay inside.
A meeting of the Defence Council takes place at the president's office. Sporting events are called off and tourist venues are closed. City facilities including schools, museums, libraries, sports halls, swimming pools, tennis courts, food markets and district town halls are closed. Paris
- Police make a national appeal for witnesses to the attacks.
- 10:50 am: Hollande calls the attacks an "act of war" and blames the Islamic State group. He calls on the French to show unity and calm and announces three days of national mourning.
- Islamic State claims responsibility for the attacks, saying they were in revenge for French airstrikes on IS targets in Syria. France is a "Crusader", the group says in a statement and promises more attacks unless Paris stops its military intervention in Syria.
- With nervousness in the capital still high, Paris police ban public demonstrations in the city and surrounding area until Thursday.
- 5.30 pm: Police say a Syrian passport has been found near the Bataclan. A Greek government minister, Nikos Toskas, says it belonged to an asylum seeker who registered on a Greek island in October.
Eight Islamic State jihadists carried out the worst attacks ever on French soil, sowing terror at six locations in Paris in a rampage on Friday night that left at least 128 people dead.
Following is a timeline of the four hours of carnage.
– Gunfire, explosions rock the night –
– FRIDAY EVENING: Gunfire and explosions erupt nearly simultaneously in several parts of Paris.
– Between 9:00 and 9:15 pm (2000 GMT and 2015 GMT): Three explosions rock the Stade de France national stadium in the northeast of the French capital during a friendly football match between France and Germany attended by around 80,000 fans. One person is killed as well as three suicide bombers.
– At 9:29 pm, a tweet goes out: “gunfire at Paris10 Bichat”, the street in the eastern 10th district where a Cambodian restaurant is located. Fourteen people dining outside are shot dead.
– At 9:38, another tweet: “very worrying noises” at the Rue de Charonne in the 11th district. The shooting lasts two or three minutes, witnesses say. Eighteen people are killed.
– At 9:49, a tweet reports “many, many gunshots at the Bataclan”, where a concert by US group Eagles of Death Metal is in full swing. Several hooded gunmen open fire in the hall shouting “Allahu akbar”. They take scores of fans hostage.
– In the Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, near the Place de la Republique, five people are shot dead outside a pizza restaurant, La Casa Nostra.
– At the other end of the vast square, on the Boulevard Voltaire, another person is killed, as well as an attacker.
– State of emergency –
– 10:30 pm: President Francois Hollande, after being evacuated from the Stade de France, where he was watching the football match, rushes to the interior ministry to assess the situation.
– Anti-terror prosecutors launch an investigation.
– 11:43 pm: Death toll rises to 35.
– Paris hospitals implement crisis procedures.
– SATURDAY 12:01 am: A clearly emotional Hollande announces “several dozen killed, many wounded”, declares a state of emergency.
– 12:15 am: An extraordinary cabinet meeting is held at the president’s office.
– Meanwhile, France’s three main political parties suspend their campaigns for December regional elections.
– 12:30 am: Armed police storm the Bataclan. At least 82 people are dead inside the venue. Four of the assailants are killed, three by detonating their own explosives belts.
– Security measures –
– Paris city authorities announce that schools and universities will be closed Saturday. School weekend trips are cancelled.
– 1:11 am: Police give estimate of around 100 people killed at the Bataclan.
– Hollande and several ministers go to the Bataclan. The president says France will mount a fight “without mercy” against the jihadists.
– His office announces the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers and says checks will be imposed at France’s borders, but they will not be closed.
– The public prosecutor says the death toll from the attacks has risen to 120.
– 4:30 am: Investigators say eight attackers are dead, of whom seven blew themselves up.
– National mourning –
– 9:00 am: Paris is far quieter than a normal Saturday as residents heed warnings from the night before to stay inside.
A meeting of the Defence Council takes place at the president’s office. Sporting events are called off and tourist venues are closed. City facilities including schools, museums, libraries, sports halls, swimming pools, tennis courts, food markets and district town halls are closed. Paris
– Police make a national appeal for witnesses to the attacks.
– 10:50 am: Hollande calls the attacks an “act of war” and blames the Islamic State group. He calls on the French to show unity and calm and announces three days of national mourning.
– Islamic State claims responsibility for the attacks, saying they were in revenge for French airstrikes on IS targets in Syria. France is a “Crusader”, the group says in a statement and promises more attacks unless Paris stops its military intervention in Syria.
– With nervousness in the capital still high, Paris police ban public demonstrations in the city and surrounding area until Thursday.
– 5.30 pm: Police say a Syrian passport has been found near the Bataclan. A Greek government minister, Nikos Toskas, says it belonged to an asylum seeker who registered on a Greek island in October.
