UPDATE:
Dozens Dead in Series of Terror Attacks in France as Kalashnikov-Wielding Gunman Opens Fire in Restaurant, 100 Hostages are Taken at Theatre and 5 Blasts are Heard Near the Stade de France
- At least 60 people have been killed and several wounded in a series of terror attacks in the heart of Paris tonight
- 11 were killed in restaurant shootout on Rue Bichat, close to where Charlie Hebdo shootings occurred in January
- Another 15 killed in the Bataclan concert hall where terrorists are said to be holding around 100 people hostage
- The terrorists shouted 'Allah Akbar' and 'this is for Syria' as they burst in and opened fire, witnesses have said
- French President Francois Hollande declared state of emergency for whole country and shut all of its borders
BBC/Daily Mail UK, 13 November 2015
Several coordinated terror attacks in the heart of Paris have left dozens of people dead and injured. Dead bodies (main and top right) littered the streets of the French capital after at least 11 were killed in a shootout in a Korean restaurant on the Rue Bichat.
Another 15 in the Paris Bataclan concert hall where terrorists are said to be holding more than 100 people hostage. The gunmen shouted 'Allah Akbar' and opened fire when they burst into the theatre, one witness said.
There were also two explosions outside the Stade de France sports stadium where the French football team are playing a friendly match against Germany tonight. The restaurant shootout took place close to the Charlie Hebdo massacre in January.
Anti-terrorist police, soldiers and emergency personnel could be seen flooding into the area after the attacks began at around 9pm.
A series of coordinated terror attacks in the heart of Paris have left at least 60 dead and paralysed the French capital with fear.
Terrorists launched a total of six coordinated attacks at high profile sites including the Louvre art gallery, the Pompidou Centre and Les Halles shopping centre tonight - all of which have been threatened by extremist groups in recent months.
At least 26 people have been killed and at least seven wounded in terror attacks in central Paris tonight, it has been reported
Bodies litter the streets of a Paris alley after a string of terror attacks in the French capital tonight
Victims lay on the pavement outside Paris restaurant following a terror attack in the French capital tonight
Two police officials said at least 11 people were killed in the restaurant shootout in Paris tonight
People run after hearing what is believed to be explosions or gun shots near Place de la Republique square in Paris
French fire brigade members help an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall following fatal shootings in Paris, France
There was a shootout at a restaurant on the Rue Bichat, two explosions near the Stade de France sports stadium and another shooting at the Paris Bataclan concert hall tonight
Machine gun fire and screams were heard from inside a restaurant on Rue Bichat, close to where the Charlie Hebdo shootings occurred in January
At least 11 people were killed in the restaurant, close to where the Charlie Hebdo shootings occurred in January, and another 15 killed in the theatre
A gunman who yelled 'Allah Akbar' is believed to have taken at least 100 people hostage at the Bataclan theatre (pictured) in Paris
A man who was inside the theatre when the gunmen entered told a French radio station that the men shouted 'Allah Akbar' as they opened fire.
He added: 'The men came in and started shooting. Everyone fell to the ground. It was hell. I took my mum, and we hid. Someone near us said they have gone, so we ran out.
'I was only thinking of escaping. We're out now. I think people are still inside. It's a nightmare - a nightmare.'
They also shouted, 'this is for Syria', another witness inside the theatre claimed.
'We are all terrified, and have been told to get away as soon as possible,' said Gilles Avel, a 19-year-old student who was enjoying a night out with friends close to the Bataclan, where a band called the Eagles of Death Metal was playing.
'There were shots and then lots of people running. We knew there was a rock concert going on in the Bataclan.'
Anti-terrorist police and soldiers could be seen flooding into the area. There have been unconfirmed reports that the attacker near the stadium was a suicide bomber.
A police officer stands guard on a street near the scene of a shooting in Paris, France
Police and other emergency services are at the scene, which is close to where the Charlie Hebdo attack happened in January.
Witnesses have told of how they saw bodies littering the streets of Paris after a machine gun wielding attacker went on a rampage in central Paris
Machine gun fire and screams were heard from inside a restaurant close to the Rue Bichat at around 9pm
There have been unconfirmed reports that the attacker near the Stade de France stadium was a suicide bomber
Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France stadium after two explosions were heard during the international friendly soccer France against Germany
Police officers secure the Stade de France stadium during the international friendly soccer France against Germany
An eyewitness said the two explosions were loud enough to be heard over the sound of cheering fans. Sirens were heard immediately and a helicopter was seen circling overhead.
Players briefly stopped in their tracks when they heard the twin blasts. Following news of the attack, thousands of fans - too scared to leave the stadium - poured onto the pitch.Machine gun fire and screams were heard from inside a restaurant on Rue Bichat at around 9pm
An AK47 gunman attacked a Korean restaurant in the Bastille area of the city, while grenade blasts were also heard.
Police and other emergency services are at the scene, which is close to where the Charlie Hebdo attack happened in January.
Images posted online showed the cracked windows of what appeared to be the restaurant under attack.
Dozens of people were standing outside their cars on the junction opposite and the lights of police cars could be seen above them.
Eyewitness Ben Grant, who was in a nearby bar with his wife at the time, said he saw six or seven bodies on the ground.
He told the BBC: 'I was told people in cars had opened fire on the bar. There are lots of dead people. It's pretty horrific to be honest.
Images posted online showed the cracked windows of what appeared to be the restaurant under attack
Police and other emergency services are at the scene, which is close to where the Charlie Hebdo attack happened in January
'I was at the back of the bar. I couldn't see anything. I heard gunshots. People dropped to the ground. We put a table over our heads to protect us. We were held up in the bar because there was a pile of bodies in front of us.'
Emilioi Macchio from Italy was at a bar close to where the restaurant shooting took place, and said it 'sounded like fireworks'.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named.
President Hollande said: 'France needs to be strong. Terrorists want us to be scared. In the face of terror we must be united.'
Paris' deputy mayor said the attacks were a horrific reminder of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in January, adding: 'It's a heavy recollection of what happened in January (C. Hebdo). Now we are struck again. This is harder. I am shaken.'
U.S. President Barrack Obama tonight branded the carnage in Paris an 'attack on humanity' and claimed it was an 'outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians'.
David Cameron said that he was 'shocked by events in Paris' and pledged to do 'whatever we can to help', adding: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people.'
The restaurant targeted Friday, Le Carillon, is in the same general neighborhood as the Charlie Hebdo offices.
France has been on edge since ISIS extremists launched a bloody attack on the satirical newspaper and a kosher grocery that left 20 people - including the three attackers - dead.
The attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo left 13 dead when two Paris born terrorists slaughtered its cartoonists and general staff members.
Four Jewish shoppers were also murdered in the same set of attacks inside a Kosher supermarket in nearby Vincennes.
The French capital has been on a high state of alert ever since, with security services warning that another attack was always likely.
ISIS's online supporters have already started to celebrate the devastating attack in Paris, using the hashtag 'Paris in fire' on social media, but it has not been confirmed whether the terror group is behind the attacks.