LiveParis attacks: as they happened

Summary

  1. 129 people were killed and 352 injured in Friday's attacks
  2. 'Three co-ordinated teams' appear to have been behind attacks
  3. Bataclan attacker 'was Frenchman known to police'
  4. Stade de France attackers 'had Egyptian and Syrian passports'
  5. French interior minister gives local authorities right to impose curfews
  6. One Briton is confirmed to have been killed
  7. Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks in official statement
  8. All times in GMT

Live Reporting

By Joel Gunter, Yaroslav Lukov, Thom Poole, Harry Low, Emma Harrison and Tom Spender

All times stated are UK

Goodbye from us

This brings to an end our live coverage of the dramatic and fast-changing events in Paris, where at least 129 people were killed in attacks on a number of sites across the French capital.

Thanks for staying with us. You can still get all the latest updates on this story here.

AP

'Large European contingent'

Jean Charles Brisard, who is Chairman of the Centre for Analysis of Terrorism in Paris, told the BBC he believes there are 3,800 radicalised individuals in France.

In addition to this we have two thousand French citizens or residents that are, were involved in jihadi networks in Syria and in Iraq, whether they've been staying in France as sympathisers or travelled abroad as jihadists. Six hundred of our citizens are currently fighting in Syria and Iraq and it's the largest European contingent of foreign fighters on the ground."

Political implications

John Pienaar

BBC Radio 5live's Chief Political Correspondent, London

Very soon attention will turn to the question of whether David Cameron and his ministers' arms will be strengthened by the events in Paris on Friday as they formulate policy to confront and take on extremism both in Syria and in this country."

Second attacker 'may have passed through Greece'

A second suspect in the Paris attacks may have travelled to Europe through Greece, Greek officials say. Investigations are now under way, a source says.

Earlier it was reported that the holder of a passport found near the body of a gunman who died on Friday had passed through Greece in October.  

Scenic solidarity

Like many landmarks around the world, the Erasmusbridge in Rotterdam has been illuminated with the colours of the French flag.

AFP/Getty Images

'Change in tactics' from IS

The BBC's Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner, has been considering the implications of the Paris attacks. Under more pressure than ever in the territory they hold, Islamic State militants "are increasingly looking to direct or inspire attacks further afield", our correspondent says.

 

 

Western counter-terrorism officials had recently come round to the conclusion that while there were still people aspiring to such grand-scale attacks, the prevailing threat was more likely to come from 'self-starters', people like the murderers of British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich near London in 2013. In the light of what has happened in Paris and elsewhere, they may now be revising that assessment."

AFP

Suspect's father and brother 'in police custody'

The father and brother of one of the Paris attackers are now in police custody, sources close to the investigation are quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

New York solidarity rally

A vigil in solidarity with France has been taking place in New York's Washington Square Park.

 

Reuters
AFP

Backlash fears

Yasser Louati, a member of the Collective Against Islamaphobia in France, says the Muslim community is disgusted by Friday's attacks. 

He told BBC Radio 5live Muslims now live in fear of a backlash. 

 "The reports we are receiving from the ground is that now people are being attacked, mosques are being attacked, death threats are being written all over social media. 

"Unfortunately less than a year ago when the attacks were carried out against the newspaper Charlie Hebdo and the Jewish supermarket, we provided the wrong answers. 

"We added more division to division and we have put Muslims as if they were somehow responsible or somehow connected. I fear for the Muslim community right now. People are calling us worried whether they should send their children to school or not on Monday."

Who were the victims?

Information has been emerging about some of the victims of the Paris attacks, but with scores still missing, families and friends are searching on the streets and online.

The BBC has gathered all the latest information about those who were killed on Friday.

AP

Pullman incident 'false alert'

An incident at Paris' Pullman Hotel we reported on a short time ago was a false alert, the French interior ministry says.

Police have searched the hotel in the 15th district of Paris - but have found nothing. 

The intervention was triggered by a tourist who thought he had seen something suspicious, the BBC's Clea Caulcutt in Paris reports.

BreakingHotel 'intervention' under way

French police say there is an ongoing police intervention at the Pullman hotel in Paris. But they have denied reports on social media that shots were fired.

'Charlie' spirit fading?

Counter terrorism expert Dr Asiem El Difraoui is worried about France's future. 

One of my biggest fears is that this national unity which was displayed to some degree after the attacks in January against Charlie Hebdo - which was summed up by the slogan 'We are Charlie' - is going away. Even then, some people felt that they were not Charlie, they were not interested in or supportive of terrorism but felt left out because they didn't feel part of the France which is Charlie."

Sporting silence

Officials and players from Denmark and Sweden have held a minute's silence in the Swedish city of Solna ahead of the first leg of their Euro 2016 play-off.

AFP/Getty Images

White House backs up French IS claims

President Obama has held a meeting of his National Security Council before leaving for a summit in Turkey. At the briefing he was told there was "no information to contradict the initial French assessment of ISIL's responsibility", using an alternative acronym for Islamic State.

AFP

US student killed

One of the victims of the attack has been named as Nohemi Gonzalez, 23, a US student at California State University who was taking a term abroad at a Paris institution.

I'm deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Long Beach State University student Nohemi Gonzalez. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this sad time."

Jane Close Conoley President of California State University

'Consequences'

The founder of the website Rue 89 and former deputy editor of Liberation Pierre Haski told the BBC he is concerned about what impact the attacks could have on Paris.

If you go out and have dinner or go to a concert and you end up dead what does that mean for the life of a city like Paris? I think people still have to reckon with the consequences of what happened."

Charles pays tribute

Prince Charles, right, observes one minute's silence in the Australian city of Perth.

AP

More on Brussels arrests

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel says investigations are under way to determine whether one of the suspects arrested in Brussels today was in Paris on Friday evening or not, Belgian daily Le Soir reports.

Suicide attacker 'tried to enter stadium'

One of the suicide attackers at France’s national football stadium, the Stade de France, had a ticket and tried to enter with a match under way, the Wall Street Journal reports. The newspaper spoke to a security guard who said the male attacker was discovered wearing an explosives vest at the entrance where he detonated it.

 

British victim named

A Briton killed at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris has been named as Nick Alexander. He was selling merchandise at the venue. His family have issued a statement.

It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night. Nick was not just our brother, son and uncle, he was everyone's best friend - generous, funny and fiercely loyal. Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world."

Foreign Commonwealth Office/PA Wire

Tel Aviv tribute

At a ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israelis are lighting candles for those killed in Paris.

Reuters

Europe mourns

Candles are burning alongside flowers which are being laid out at embassies across Europe.

Reuters
Prague, Czech Republic
AFP/Getty Images
Kiev in Ukraine
EPA
Warsaw in Poland

'Needlessly'

Eyewitness Igor Meldenovic was having dinner close to the Bataclan when he saw scores of people running for their lives. 

"I don't feel fortunate," he tells the BBC. "I feel very angry that I was not able to help the people who were getting killed around me.You can't feel relieved when you're in this kind of situation. You can only think of those who've lost their lives needlessly."

Syria strikes to continue

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says France will continue air strikes in Syria, targeting Islamic State, Reuters reports.

U2 pay tribute

The Irish band U2 have paid their respects outside the venue where they were due be performing this evening. They have cancelled two performances in the French capital.

AFP/Getty Images

Footballer's cousin killed

French midfielder Lassana Diarra has revealed he lost his cousin in the attacks. Diarra was playing for his country last night at the Stade de France - the scene of one of the attacks. 

As you may have read, I was touched personally by the attacks. My cousin, Asta Diakite, was among the victims of one of the shootings yesterday, along with hundreds of other innocent French people. She was like a big sister to me."

Lass Diarra

Lass_Officiel

#PrayForPeace

Landmarks illuminated

Iconic sites around Europe are being lit up in the colours of the French flag.

EPA
The London Eye
AP
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

'Known for petty crimes'

One of the bombers was born in the Paris suburb of Courcouronnes in 1985, Mr Molins says. 

He was known for petty crimes committed between 2004 - 2006. Intelligence services reported that he was radicalised in 2010, but he was not known to be part of any network.

Saturday's arrests

The Paris prosecutor also reveals that three people were arrested on Saturday morning, including one at the French-Belgian border.

Syrian passport

Mr Molins says one of the attackers was from a Parisian suburb and had been known for past criminal acts. Another attacker had a Syrian passport. 

Mr Molins says all the attackers had automatic Kalashnikov weapons.

'Three teams' behind attacks

More from the Paris prosecutor, who says "three co-ordinated teams" appear to have been behind Friday's attacks.

We have to find who these people are, who their accomplices are, who ordered this, where they come from, how they were financed."

Black Seat car

Mr Molins says 99 people are still in critical conditions. He also mentions that in one of the attacks, gunmen used a black Seat vehicle.

AFP

Minute's silence across Europe

The 28-member European Union has called for a minute's silence to be held on Monday at 11:00 GMT for the victims of the Paris attacks. 

'Peace for Paris' sign

In picture after picture, one symbol keeps emerging as people pay tribute to Paris and the victims of the attacks.

EPA
Protesters in Rome
Reuters
A US football player
Reuters
A candle at the Place de la Republique, Paris

'Buried under' - Bataclan survivor's story

Theresa Cede, who was in the audience at the Bataclan, recounts the horror of Friday's attack. She tells BBC Radio 5live: "There were grenades, or one grenade at least that I know of. Body parts flying around, people shouting, screaming. 

"But then, you know, at the moment, like, everybody who could would become as quiet as possible, just not to move. And it lasted a lifetime or an eternity. It was like, probably an hour. 

"I got more or less buried under a man who was shot in the head next to me. And so I was underneath him. And from there nobody moved. 

"Then we heard terrorists who were shouting, Syria was in it. And then... mostly it was: "Stay down, don't move, we'll shoot you.' 

"But then they shot anyway. I was thinking to myself, is it going to be me next? That's what went through my head.  

ap

Victims' details emerge

The names of some of those killed in the attacks have begun to emerge. They include Djamila Houd, aged 41, from France; Thomas Ayad, 34, also from France, who was killed at the Bataclan; and - as we reported earlier - LSE graduate Valentin Ribet is also reported to be among the dead.

Belgium, Portugal and Sweden have all said some of their nationals are among those killed but details have not been released. 

 

 

 

Le Carillon profile

The BBC has been looking at Le Carillon, a cafe-bar in central Paris that was one of last night's attack sites. But locals are defiant.

 

I'm not scared to go out in this area now, because you can't just stay at home as this would mean to give in to fear."

Cora Delacroix Paris resident
EPA

'Number of arrests' in Belgium

The Belgian justice minister says "a number" of arrests have been made in Brussels in relation to the Paris attacks, according to the Associated Press news agency.

This comes after police raided a neighbourhood of the Belgian capital earlier on Saturday.

Sleeping at the stadium

Martin Roschitz, from Germany's NDR Radio, was at the Stade de France stadium for Friday's match between France and Germany.

He tells BBC World Service: “After the match the German players came up into the tunnel and expected us to interview them, but we had no questions and we were all sad and deeply shocked about the circumstances. 

"The players didn’t realise what had happened, and in the end team manager Oliver Bierhoff informed the players and then they tried to phone their relatives and friends. 

"They slept in the stadium because it was too risky to go to the team hotel. There was a bomb warning the day before and they didn't feel safe in the hotel, so they decided to stay at the stadium with the French team.”

EPA

Notre Dame to host memorial

The Notre Dame cathedral will hold a memorial service for the victims of the attacks on Sunday at 17.30 GMT, reports the BBC's Clea Caulcutt in Paris.

Public figures are expected to attend and Parisians will be allowed inside the cathedral.

Services will be maintained on Sunday in Paris churches and parishioners will hold prayers for the victims.

EU solidarity

EU leaders have issued a joint statement saying that "everything that can be done at European level to make France safe will be done".

Syrian passport holder passed through Greece - minister

A Greek government minister says the holder of a Syrian passport found at the scene crossed into the European Union through the Greek island of Leros in October. 

Deputy public order minister Nikos Toskas, said in a statement:

On the case of the Syrian passport found at the scene of the terrorist attack, we announce that the passport holder passed from Leros on October 3 where he was identified based on EU rules ... We do not know if the passport was checked by other countries through which the holder likely passed.

America determined 'to eliminate the evil of terrorism'

At a news conference in Vienna, US Secretary of State John Kerry said America is determined "to eliminate the evil of terrorism".

"And, believe me, this determination is only stronger" after the Paris attacks, Mr Kerry said.

AFP

'Small number' of British citizens caught up in attacks - No 10

Downing Street believes that a small number of British citizens were caught up in the Paris attacks. 

"While we have now confirmed the safety of many British citizens, we are concerned that a small number of British nationals have been caught up in the attack," a spokesman said. 

"Our Embassy in Paris are working urgently with the French authorities to find out more and we have deployed additional consular staff and a team from the Metropolitan Police to assist them with this task."

The statement followed a meeting of the Cobra security committee chaired by David Cameron.

Mr Cameron will travel to the G20 in Turkey tomorrow as planned, the spokesman said.

Frenchman detained at Gatwick after 'gun' found

Police have arrested a 41-year-old Frenchman after "what appears to be a firearm" was discovered at Gatwick airport.

The airport's North terminal was evacuated and flights cancelled earlier today following a security alert.

The man is being interviewed as we try to determine the circumstances of the incident, but at this time it is too early to say what his intentions, if any, were. However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness."

Nick May Detective Superintendent

The North Terminal has now reopened.

Schools to open Monday - Cazeneuve

French schools will open on Monday and a minute of silence will be held in the morning, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says.

The attacks have had a major impact on daily life in France - troops and police have been deployed around the country, public demonstrations banned until Thursday, sports events cancelled and major landmarks closed.

Attackers 'self-contained cell back from Syria'

The Paris attackers were members of a self-contained cell and had travelled to Syria, the BBC's Frank Gardner reports, citing Whitehall sources.

German condolences

This is the book of condolences at the French embassy in Berlin. Among the signatures on the page is that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

EPA

'It was the first time I saw someone die'

Marie Cartal lives above La Casa Nostra restaurant, where at least five people died. She spoke to the BBC's Gavin Lee.

It was really shocking. It was the first time in my life I saw someone dying in front of me. I mean people there were just sitting outside having a drink. They were not politicians, they were not politically engaged. They were just enjoying the beginning of the weekend. So, why?"

Back to top