FRENCH President Francois Hollande has declared war on Islamic State as the terror group officially claims responsibility for the bloody attacks at six different sites of Paris, slaughtering at least 128 people.
France is in severe shock at the carnage that has ripped apart its capital city’s soul on a busy Friday night when eight Islamic terrorists armed with guns and explosives launched the deadly attacks.
The French newspaper Libération reports that one of the terrorists who carried out the Bataclan shooting has been confirmed as a French extremist who was known to police.
It also reports that an Egyptian passport was found on one of the attackers the Stade de France, as well as a Syrian passport. Neither man has had their identity confirmed by officials.
Mr Hollande was visibly outraged at the atrocities that have claimed 127 lives and left hundreds injured, many seriously and he called for all French citizens to be courageous.
As hundreds of mourners laid flowers at the site of the seven attacks, including the Bataclan music hall, Mr Hollande announced three official days of mourning. And the Eiffel Tower will be closed indefinitely, according to the iconoic landmark’s operator.
In mourning ... People gather at a makeshift memorial next to the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 14, 2015, following a series of terrorist attacks resulting in the death of at least 120 people. Picture: AFP
He said the state of emergency, implemented in the hours after the attacks would stay in place and border checks would be maintained at all borders.
Mr Hollande said the attacks were planned outside of France and against France, particularly against the values of freedom.
“What happened yesterday was an act of war,’’ he said. “And faced with war a country must make the appropriate decisions.
“This was committed by Daesh against France, against the values we defend throughout the world, against the country we are. It is an act of war prepared and organised and planned from outside. It is absolutely barbaric. The families are in distress and pain and the country is also suffering.’’
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