The tragedy in Paris

Niki Patel, Staff Writer

On the unfortunate day of Friday, November 13, 2015, a surge of terrorism filled the city of Paris. Three teams of terrorists staged coordinate attacks at six locations throughout the city. This included the Bataclan concert hall, the deadliest site, with at least 89 people killed. A witness told Radio France that the attackers stormed in firing pump rifles and shouting “Allahu Akbar (God is Great).” In addition, a soccer match between France and Germany at Stade de France was interrupted. A witness said two explosions could be heard in the background during the game. President Francois Hollande was at the stadium and among those who were evacuated following the attacks. Restaurants, cafes, and bars were other target areas as well. Overall, the Paris attacks resulted in 130 deaths, with about 353 wounded, 99 of them in serious condition. A beautiful day in Paris quickly turned into a city in turmoil and chaos.

According to French President Francois Hollande, “The Paris attacks were planned in Syria and organized in Belgium.” So far, seven terrorists behind the attacks have been killed. Among several of them were suicide bombers. Authorities believe that Belgian–born French national Salah Abdeslam is another strong suspect who is still on the loose. French police released his photo and warned that he is “dangerous.” The Paris attackers rented an apartment in the suburb of Bobigny for a week before they launched Friday’s series of shootings and explosions, according to multiple reports in French media. In addition, eyewitness accounts and videos showed a black Seat and a black Volkswagen Polo, which were registered in Belgium, as two cars used in the Paris attacks.

After this tragic event, the reactions around the globe are mixed with terror and sympathy. Multiple nations find themselves at a heightened level of panic after ISIS released a video promising more attacks. A U.S. government official said that at the moment, there is no credible or specific threat to the United States. The iconic Eiffel Tower lit up in Paris on Monday in the colors of the French flag. Other landmarks and monuments around the world have done the same in a showing of solidarity. “Tonight, we are all Parisians,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said at a lighting ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. He further stated, “Don’t mistake what these attacks represent. This is not a clash of civilizations. These terrorists have declared war against all civilization…This is an assault not just on France, but coming on the heels of brutal attacks in Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere, it is an assault on our collective sense of reason and purpose, an attack on civility itself.” People from all over the world are sending heartfelt condolences to the deceased as well as their families. This miserable tragedy in Paris will eternally be marked in the pages of history in honor of reminding humankind of the significance of eliminating terrorism in our world today.