State of emergency as terrorists kill over 150 in France

Terrorists struck six locations in Paris with gunfire and explosions, killing more than 125 people and seizing hostages in yet another massacre in France this year.

The attacks occurred Friday night as residents and tourists reveled in bars and restaurants.

Excited weekend chatter turned into panicked screams as terrorists opened fire at various sites.

One of the targets was near a soccer match as France played world champion Germany. Terrified fans huddled together and streamed onto the field after the blasts . Others hugged.

At the Bataclan, a concert hall where most of the fatalities occurred, fans were listening to American rock band Eagles of Death Metal when gunfire erupted.

“People yelled, screamed,” said Julien Pearce, who was there. “It lasted for 10 minutes. Ten horrific minutes where everybody was on the floor covering their head.”

President Francois Hollande vowed to hunt down the terrorists, whom he referred to as “barbarians.”

“We will lead the fight and we will be ruthless,” Hollande said. “… When the terrorists are capable of doing such acts, they must know that they will face a France very determined.”

He declared three days of national mourning.

Six locations
Eight terrorists are dead following the attacks on six locations in Paris and nearby areas, prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre said.

The prosecutor’s office said it cannot confirm whether all terrorists have been killed because it has not determined the total number of attackers.

Of the eight, seven died in suicide bombings, officials said.

The attackers targeted a concert hall, a stadium, restaurants and bars.

Concert hall
Most of the deaths were inside the Bataclan concert hall, where a witness said gunmen stormed in firing rifles and shouting “Allah akbar.” At least 112 people died in that attack.

“We lay down on the floor not to get hurt. It was a huge panic,” Pearce said. “The terrorists shot at us for 10 to 15 minutes. It was a bloodbath.”

The gunmen seized hostages before French police stormed in and rescued 100 people.

Four attackers were killed at the concert hall, including three who were wearing explosives belts, police spokesman Michel Cadot told France Info radio.

Michael Dorio, brother of Eagles of Death Metal drummer Julian Dorio, said he spoke to the musician after the attack.

Dorio said when his brother and his bandmates heard the gunshots, they stopped playing, took off backstage and exited.

Bars and restaurants
Charlotte Brehaut and a friend were dining at a Cambodian restaurant in Paris, she said.

“All of a sudden, we heard huge gunshots and glass coming through the windows,” she said. “We ducked with the other diners.”

At least 14 people were killed at the Le Petit Cambodge restaurant, authorities said.

In addition to the Cambodian restaurant, four people were killed in the tenth district of Paris. Four others died on Avenue de la Republique, also in the 10th district of the French capital.

Nineteen people were killed outside La Belle Epuipe bar in the eleventh district of Paris.

Stadium
Some explosions hit near the Stade de France outside Paris, home of the national sports teams. Four people died in those attacks, authorities said.

One of the blasts appears to be a suicide bombing, a Western intelligence source told CNN.

Three suicide bombers died in the blasts. A dismembered body consistent with the aftermath of an explosion from that type of device was found at the scene, authorities said.

SOURCE : CNN