[ot-caption title=”The French flag over the Eiffel Tower in light of the recent terror attacks in Paris. (via Guillaume Spurt, Flickr)”]

Late Friday night, on November 13^th, 2015, thousands of lives changed forever with the terrorist attacks in France. Three teams of terrorists attacked six different locations throughout Paris, including a concert hall in which an American band, Eagles of Death Metal, was playing. Another one of the attacks occurred at the Stade de France, where a terrorist tried to enter the soccer stadium that was holding over 80,000 people for a game between the French and German national teams. Fortunately, a security guard named Zouheir found the explosive-laden vest at the security check outside of the stadium. The other targets “at least two resturants,” according to prosecutor Francois Molins.

At the Bataclan concert hall, at least 89 people were murdered as three attackers opened fire at the concert. The terrorists entered the concert and took members hostage towards the front of the stage; after giving a brief speech about Syria and Iraq, they murdered the concertgoers. Once the police came to the venue, the terrorists activated their suicide belts.

During the France versus Germany soccer match, three suicide bombers killed one man outside the stadium. Although their goal was to get inside of the stadium where President of France, Francois Hollande was attending the game, the security guard at the front of the stadium found their explosives.

In the tenth and eleventh arrondissements, open fire occurred near the Canal Saint Martin, outside Café Bonne Bière, near the restaurant La Belle Equipe, and at the Café Comptoir Voltaire.  As a result of these attacks on various restaurants, thirty-nine civilians were killed.

In response to these attacks, President Hollande tightened border control and declared a state of emergency in France. Deploying 1,500 military troops, Hollande hopes to prevent further attacks and to capture the attackers.

In the investigation of the people responsible for the attacks, two have been identified, while six other people have been detained. One of the terrorists is known to have entered the country with a group of refugees fleeing Syria. On one of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) accounts on a messaging platform, the terror group claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris by calling them “the first of the storm.” The group continued its post by saying, “Eight brothers, wrapped in explosive belts and armed with machine rifles, targeted sites that were accurately chosen in the heart of the capital of France.” In response to the attacks on Paris, France is directing airstrikes in Raqqa, Syria, which is an ISIS stronghold.

In wake of the recent attacks, the city of Paris is mourning those who lost their lives, but the sentiment of fear is still prevalent, as Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman said, “We don’t know yet if this terror in fact is over or not.”

CNN reported that this, “was the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, in which 191 people died.”

In total, these events killed 129 people and left 353 civilians wounded, French officials report. In the words of President Hollande, “France is strong and even if she is wounded she will get up always and nothing will hold her down.”  The international community stands with France and the perseverance of peace and freedom around the world.

Sources: CNN, WSJ, New York Times, NBC News, Photo Source: Guillaume Spurt