World Politics

[Semper Fidelis]

Un real. My blood pressure sky high

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

There are reports of 200 hostages being held in a theater being shot one by one right now.....

Glenn's right, there are no words.

Oh god. 200?
This reminds me of Beslan or Moscow.

When I first heard the news 3 hours ago, "shooting in Paris, 2 dead" I thought maybe some gangland hit.

Now its looking like this might be a day that Europe will never forget. Beyond London or Madrid even.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm hearing about pro IS people applauding these attacks on social media? Are they punishable?

 

[BigMac]

Yes, this is unprecedented in France. Two of the three bombings outside the Stade de France were done by suicide. BFMTV reports dismembered bodies.

Update: 5 new explosions near the Bataclan.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

4 explosions heard in theater that hostages are being held in...

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Yes, this is unprecedented in France. Two of the three bombings outside the Stade de France were done by suicide. BFMTV reports dismembered bodies.

Update: 5 new explosions near the Bataclan.

5? Ughhh..... This is awful!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

There are reports of 200 hostages being held in a theater being shot one by one right now.....

Glenn's right, there are no words.

Oh god. 200?
This reminds me of Beslan or Moscow.

When I first heard the news 3 hours ago, "shooting in Paris, 2 dead" I thought maybe some gangland hit.

Now its looking like this might be a day that Europe will never forget. Beyond London or Madrid even.

It's like 9/11, the first plane was crazy and scary, but could have been a tragedy. The second plane, suddenly the whole complexion changes. Even if it was politically motivated, the first incident is just one incident. Now it looks like we're dealing with a large-scale, hydra-headed, carefully orchestrated night of destruction. By the time the attacks finish and the final toll comes to light, I'm afraid I expect this is going to dwarf London. It bears traits of both the London attacks and the Moscow theatre hostage crisis you reference.

 

[The Hitch]

I wonder if the bombs in the Stadium were to create fear for the tournament next year. Besides the loss of life, the fear people will have of going to France next year is going to cost the European economy billions.

 

[Irondan]

French police are storming the theater that contains the hostages right now!

 

[BigMac]

Hostages sending text messages outside: ''They're killing us one by one''.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Hostages sending text messages outside: ''They're killing us one by one''.

Oh my God!

 

[Red Rick]

Anyone claim responsibility yet?

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

I'm hearing about pro IS people applauding these attacks on social media? Are they punishable?

After Hebdo I remember there was a young high flying lawyer launched a hate video on youtube basically justifying the attacks.

http://www.legalcheek.com/2015/01/clifford-chance-trainee-pulls-paris-attack-rant-youtube/

Last I checked, Clifford Chance never did anything.

 

[BigMac]

Liberation reports hostages finally coming out. Police confirm they launched an assault on the buiilding as Dan mentioned above.

edit: Radio France and not the Liberation.

 

[VeloCity]

"French radio reporter Julien Pearce was inside the Bataclan theater when gunmen entered. Two men dressed in black started shooting what he described as AK-47s, and after wounded people fell to the floor, the two gunmen shot them again, execution-style, he said. The two men didn't wear masks and didn't say anything. The gunfire lasted 10 to 15 minutes, sending the crowd inside the small concert hall into a screaming panic, said Pearce, who escaped. He said he saw 20 to 25 bodies lying on the floor. The hostage situation at the Bataclan continued early Saturday."

 

[Semper Fidelis]

So far the babtist and jehova witness's have not come forward

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Maybe they are Methodist like GW

 

[The Hitch]

2 attackers killed apparently in the hostage situation. Well done to the French police.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

2 attackers killed apparently in the hostage situation. Well done to the French police.

They really had to move in considering the reports of executions taking place. That said, well done on the swift storm-in.

Other shooters still at large.

 

[Amsterhammer]

"

More details on the ending of that operation at the Bataclan:

The AP is now citing two Paris police officials as saying that security forces have ended their assault on the Bataclan, killing at least two attackers. Neither official could be named, citing ongoing operations throughout the city.

One official described “carnage” inside the building, saying the attackers had tossed explosives at the hostages. Both officials said they expected the toll of victims to rise.

 

[Red Rick]

Reports from witnesses saying perpetrators were screaming a certain, well known Arabic phrase

 

[Amsterhammer]

Re:

Reports from witnesses saying perpetrators were screaming a certain, well known Arabic phrase

I heard others saying the killers said nothing while killing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Reports saying around 100 dead inside the Bataclan on top of the toll we already know about.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Reports saying around 100 dead inside the Bataclan on top of the toll we already know about.

 

[Amsterhammer]

This is a translation of the Libération editor Laurent Joffrin’s op-ed.

The barbarity of terrorism has just taken a historical step. A massacre coordinated in the heart of Paris and the Stade de France was conducted with cold determination, in order to kill as many as possible.

Even at the height of the clashes linked to the Algerian civil war in the 1990s, France had never experienced this level of violence. And it is France, its policies and its international role which are targeted by the killers. Unlike the attacks on Charlie Hebdo or the Hyper Cacher, which were precise in their execution, tonight’s attacks are acts of indistinct cruelty unleashed to inspire terror across the nation.

The sites of the attacks were all dedicated to entertainment and friendliness, were purposely in the line of fire, as a way to underline the fact that French people are now under menace in their everyday life, as they simply go out with friends.

We are horrified in front of the vastness of this massacre, and compassion for the victims is the most humane and immediate reaction to have. We first and foremost think of the victims and their families. As for the rest - it has to focus on cold blood and civism. French society should arm itself with the courage to not give an inch to the killers, and has to show vigilance and the undying will to face the horror with the force of the law and solidarity.

The Republic, its mobilised state and the law will take on the battle without trembling, with great efficiency. It is impossible to not link those bloody attacks to those taking place in the Middle East, where France plays its part. Our country must continue its action unblinkingly. Only our country’s unity, as with stand strong and voluntary and carried by our values, will allow France to take its greatest challenge.