Paris Attack- Holland Says ISIS Behind Attacks Pledges 'Merciless' Retal...

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France vows to hit back at Islamic State as Paris bleeds

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for six attacks that took place across Paris on Friday night. Nearly 128 people were killed and 200 in the coordinated attacks.



People hold a sign during a rally at Sergels torg, or Sergel's Square, in Stockholm, Sweden November 14, 2015, a day after the attacks in Paris. (Reuters Photo)

Noting that the coordinated attacks carried out by eight gunmen across Paris on Friday night was organized from abroad by Islamic State with internal help,  French President Francois Hollande on Saturday vowed to hit the banned terror organisation  hard.

Over 128 people were killed and 200 injured in attacks carried out by masked gunmen at various places in Paris. The death toll is expected to rise as scores of those injured are critical, French Envoy to India Francois Richier told India Today.

No Indian casualty has been reported in the attacks so far. External Affairs Sushma Swaraj tweeted,"I have spoken to Indian Ambassador in France. He has informed me that all Indians are safe. France has advised citizens to stay indoors."



According to latest reports, authorities have closed the Eiffel Tower for public indefinitely in the wake of the Paris attacks. Border areas have been sealed amid a massive operation to locate and neutralise any remaining terrorist, who may have escaped after carrying out the attacks. French authorities confirmed that the attacks were carried out by eight gunmen but fear some more militants may still be inside the country waiting to launch yet another round of mayhem.



The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it sent militants strapped with suicide bombing belts and carrying machine guns to various locations in the heart of the capital. It was the worst such attack in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, in which 191 died and second in Paris in 10 months. In January, 12 people were killed when militants attacked the office of Charlie Hebdo newspaper.

Act of war'

The attacks, described by Hollande as an act of war, were designed to show the country would remain in danger as long as it continued its current policies, Islamic State said in a statement. After being whisked from the stadium near the blasts, Hollande declared a national state of emergency - the first since World War II. Border controls were temporarily re-imposed to stop perpetrators escaping.

The Paris metro railway was closed and schools, universities and municipal buildings were ordered to stay shut on Saturday. However some rail and air services are expected to run.

Syrian passport found near body of attacker

A Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the suicide bombers who blew himself up near a Paris soccer stadium, Reuters quoted sources close the investigation, as saying.

"The attacks at a stadium, concert hall and cafes and restaurants in northern and eastern Paris were an act of war committed by Daesh (Arabic acronym for Islamic State) that was prepared, organized and planned from outside (of France) with help from inside France," Hollande said.



IS releases video warning France

Earlier, the Islamic State released an undated video threatening to attack France if it continues to participate in fight against the group in Syria and else where.

The group's foreign media arm, Al-Hayat Media Centre, made the threat through a militant who called on French Muslims to carry out attacks.

"As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear traveling to the market," said the bearded Arabic-speaking militant, flanked by other fighters.

When gunshots rattled Paris' calm night

A Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people at a rock concert at the Bataclan concert hall. Anti-terrorist commandos eventually launched an assault on the building. The gunmen detonated explosive belts and dozens of shocked survivors were rescued.

Emergency services were mobilised, police leave was cancelled, 1,500 army reinforcements were drafted into the Paris region and hospitals recalled staff to cope with the casualties.