by David Kavanagh
WARNING: this article contains videos some may find disturbing
Videos of the terror attacks in Paris are starting to find their way onto social media and news broadcasts, painting a disturbing picture of the events that claimed the lives of at least 129 people on Friday.
As France and the wider world grieves in solidarity, investigators are working to piece together a timeline of the six targeted attacks conducted by eight assailants across the capital.
Islamic State has since claimed responsibility, citing France’s involvement in Syria and Iraq as motivation and threatening continued violence unless France withdraws.
An account of November 13 follows.
Firefighters assist an injured man near the Bataclan Concert Hall. Source: Reuters/ Christian Hartmann
At approximately 21:15CET, two explosions were heard near Stade de France in the city’s North about 15 minutes into a soccer match between France and Germany.
Thousands were in attendance, including French President Francois Hollande. At least three people were killed in the stadium’s vicinity. This moment was captured on camera.
After a period of confusion, as fans were evacuated, many began to sing France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise, in defiant unison.
Later, between 21:20 and 21:43, gunfire and explosions rocked a number of restaurants and establishments throughout the city, including cafe-bar Carillon and the Cambodian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge near the Canal Saint-Martin.
Pizzeria Casa Nostra, the brasserie La Belle Equipe and cafe Comptoir Voltaire were also struck, the latter one devastated by a bomb hidden inside a bag.
The deadliest attack, however, took place at Bataclan Concert Hall, where hundreds were enjoying a night watching American rock band Eagles of Death Metal perform.
Conflicting reports by survivors and witnesses seem to suggest four attackers, equipped with Kalashnikovs and explosives, began indiscriminately firing into the crowd at about 21:45, killing at least 89 people and injuring many more.
A chilling 14-second amateur video filmed from inside the venue shows the moment the attack began.
Those that were able fled through exits and windows, some carrying or dragging injured friends and strangers with them.
Journalist Daniel Psenny of Le Monde who lives on the second floor of an apartment just outside one of Bataclan’s emergency exits was able to capture the moment crowds flooded from the theatre down the Passage Saint-Pierre Amelot.
After going downstairs to try and help an injured man lying on the pavement, Mr Psenny was himself shot in the arm.
“I don’t remember much after that, I have a blank but I remember feeling like a firecracker had exploded in my left arm and I saw that it was pissing blood,” he recounted.
“I think the shooter was at the window of the Bataclan.”
Over the course of an hour, police respondents engaged in a firefight with the four attackers, resulting in three detonating themselves and the fourth being killed by officers.
French photographer Patrick Zachmann of Magnum Photos was outside the stadium in Republique Square at the time and was able to film the exchange on his iPhone while taking cover near an unmarked police car.
At one point in the video, sparks are visible as bullets ricochet from a car near a group of policemen.
Bullets ricochet from a car near where police officers are taking cover.
Source: Screenshot/ SMH
“It was panic,” said Mr Zachmann in an interview with TIME magazine.
“You felt that it was not under control, that they didn’t know what was going on [and] from where exactly [the attackers] were shooting.”
In response to these attacks, which come approximately 10 months after the murder of 12 people by extremists at the Paris offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, President Hollande has declared a “state of emergency” and imposed heavy restrictions on the country’s borders.
Speaking at the Bataclan in one of multiple aftermath speeches, President Hollande called for strong-willed retribution.
“To all those who have seen these awful things, I want to say that we are going to lead a fight which will be pitiless,” he said.
Some victims of the tragedy, hailing from at least 15 different countries, have now also been identified. You can read about some of them at The Guardian.
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