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FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS Hollande has declared a state of emergency after a night of terror in Paris, as the city was hit by a series of explosions and shootings.
The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting a US rock band, where scores of people were held hostage and attackers ended the standoff by detonating explosive belts.
What we know so far:
The Department of Foreign Affairs has set up a phone line at 01-408-2000 for anyone worried about relatives or friends who are not yet accounted for in Paris.
Any Irish in Paris can also contact the Embassy on +33144176700.
It’s now around five hours since the last of the terror attacks in Paris.
We’ll have updates here all day at TheJournal.ie.
The attacks – targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots – killed at least 120 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II.
President Francois Hollande condemned it as terrorism and pledged that France will stand firm against its enemies.
After initial reports that the death toll could reach up to 160, that is now being revised down.
The Press Association is still reporting that more than 140 could have been killed. Associated Press reports ‘at least 120′ and the latest update from the Paris prosecutor’s office – shortly before – 4.30am also gave the death toll at around 120.
Reuters is reporting that the death toll at the Bataclan venue – where the Eagles of Death Metal were playing a show – could now be 87. It was previously reported as many as 120 people were dead at that location.
This is the latest from Reuters on the concert venue attack:
A Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people attending a rock concert at the Bataclan music hall. Anti-terrorist commandos eventually launched an assault on the building. The gunmen detonated explosive belts and dozens of shocked survivors were rescued.
This was foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan’s statement on the attacks, issued shortly after midnight:
“It was with deep shock and dismay that I learned of this evening’s terrible events in Paris.
“I have just spoken with France’s Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Jean-Pierre Thébault, and conveyed to him, on behalf of the people of Ireland, deepest condolences and sympathy on this appalling tragedy.
“I told him that we stand with the people of France at this time of great difficulty and that Ireland will assist in any way possible.
“Our Embassy in Paris is on stand-by to offer assistance to any Irish people affected by these events and the staff of the Embassy are on duty and monitoring the situation closely.”
Once again, concerned families with loved ones in Paris who may be unaccounted for can call the Department of Foreign Affairs helpline any time at 01 408 2000.
Any Irish in Paris can also contact the Embassy on +33144176700.
The Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice for Irish citizens has been updated this morning – with people being told to “exercise extreme caution”.
Here’s the full advice:
“A state of emergency has been declared in Paris following multiple events on Friday evening. Citizens in Paris should exercise extreme caution and follow the instructions of the local authorities, who are advising people to stay indoors. Irish citizens in Paris should make contact to reassure their family at home as to their safety.
“Airports remain operational but Irish citizens in or travelling to France should expect additional security and possible travel disruptions. Anyone intending to travel to Paris should contact their airline or tour operator for further information.”
This graphic shows the locations of the attacks and the death toll at each site (which could change over the coming hours):
President Barack Obama has spoken by phone to French President Francois Hollande to offer the condolences of the American people.
The White House said in a statement that Obama had reiterated the United States’ steadfast, unwavering support for the people of France, calling the nation America’s oldest ally and friend.
Obama also has reaffirmed the offer of any necessary support to the French investigation.
The White House says the two leaders have pledged to work together, and with nations around the world, to defeat the scourge of terrorism.
Friends and relatives have been using social media to search for loved ones feared to have been at the sites of the attacks.
People have been taking to Twitter to appeal for information on loved ones believed to have been at the Bataclan concert.
“We are looking for Marie, who was at the Bataclan, we have no news from her. If you see her, please contact me #Bataclan”, the tweet below reads…
“If you have news of Christophe aka @MokeComputer he was at Bataclan tonight and we need to hear from him,” another Twitter user wrote:
Irish Facebook users have also been using the ‘Safety Check’ feature which allows anyone in Paris to mark themselves as safe…
You can find the Safety Check here.
Earlier in the evening, Parisians used the hashtag #portesouvertes, or “open doors,” to offer a place to stay for people who were evacuated from the sites of the attacks…
More details coming in on the attack at the Bataclan theatre. You’ll find a separate report on that here.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has canceled trips to France and Italy in the wake of the terror attacks.
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted him as saying that Iran “itself has been a victim of the scourge of terrorism” and the fight against terrorism must go on.
France was one of the world powers involved in recent negotiations with the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme.
Hossein Jaber Ansari, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, also was quoted as saying:
“Those terrorist groups that committed the Paris crimes do not believe in ethical principles and they are not loyal to any type of divine religions — including Islam.”
British Prime Minister is set to hold a meeting of the UK’s emergency committee Cobra this morning.
Morning Ireland will be going on air with a special edition of the programme at 8am.
Police in France are hunting for possible accomplices of the eight assailants who carried out the attacks last night.
Here’s the latest update on that manhunt and general developments this morning, just filed by Associated Press:
French police are hunting possible accomplices of eight assailants who terrorised Paris concert-goers, cafe diners and soccer fans in this country’s deadliest peacetime attacks, a succession of explosions and shootings that cast a dark shadow over this luminous tourist destination.
Parisians who went to sleep in horror at initial news of the attacks woke Saturday to learn that at least 120 people were killed and scores wounded. World leaders joined together in sympathy and indignation, New York police increased security measures, and people around the world reached out to friends and loved ones in France.
The perpetrators remained a mystery — their nationalities, their motives, even their exact number. Suspicion turned to Islamic extremists, who are angry at France’s military operations against the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates, and who targeted satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo this year and have hit Jewish and other sites in France in the past.
French President Francois Hollande convened a special security meeting Saturday morning. He vowed to be “merciless” with the nation’s foes following what he called unprecedented terrorist attacks.
In a new development for France, seven attackers died in suicide bombings, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. Another was killed by police, and prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said authorities can’t rule out that other attackers are at large. Investigators are also looking for possible accomplices.
The attacks, on at least six sites, were near-simultaneous.
The Vatican has condemned “in the most radical way” the terror attacks in Paris.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi said in a statement early that the violence was “an attack on peace for all humanity”.
He said it requires “a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us as we counter the spread of homicidal hatred in all of its forms”.
Lombardi said the Vatican was praying for the victims and the wounded “and for all the French people”.
Buildings around the world are being lit up in solidarity with the people of France.
U2 has postponed its planned concert in Paris tonight in light of the deadly attacks across the city.
The Dublin band said in a statement that it would go ahead with the concert “at an appropriate time”.
The members said they watched in shock and disbelief at the unfolding events, and were devastated by the loss of life at the Eagles of Death Metal concert.
They added:
“We hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe.”
Speaking on Morning Ireland, the Taoiseach said his thoughts and sympathies were with the French people.
For now the immediate priority is to find out how the attacks were planned and coordinated, Kenny said.
Stephen Carroll, an Irish reporter with France 24, has been speaking to Morning Ireland about his experience in Paris last night.
He was at a comedy gig when news of the attacks began to come in, he said.
Carroll later went down to the scene at the Bataclan…
Higgins had called to express “his very sad feelings” and those of the people of Ireland, he said.
Thébault said it was a very strong sign of the massive support for the French people from the people of Ireland.
Angela Merkel has said she will meet with her ministers to discuss the Paris attacks. The German Chancellor pledged to “do everything” her country could to help France fight against terrorists.
We will do everything to help in the hunt for the perpetrators and instigators, and to carry out the fight together against these terrorists.
The latest death toll – as reported by Reuters citing French officials – is now at 128.
The critically injured list has reached 99 people, with another 80 reported injured.
Who is responsible?
That’s the question in Paris, right now.
Unusually, no group has taken responsibility for the attacks yet.
Reports from the city indicate that the acts of terror were carried out by at least eight militants, all wearing suicide vests.
The suspects so far include ISIS and al Qaeda. Security experts are saying that the coordinated attacks show a level of sophistication not seen since the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India. During that horrific day, 166 people died in multiple sites.
In fact, yesterday’s reign of terror may have been too sophisticated for a group such as ISIS to have carried it out.
There is also the possibility that the atrocity was the work of a group of people in France working independently of any global terror group.
This video is getting shared a lot today. It shows defiant French people singing La Marseillaise as they leave the Stade de France, the site of two suicide bombs during a friendly match between France and Germany.
Flights between Ireland and Paris ARE operating today but Aer Lingus are offering full refunds to people who do not wish to travel.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has urged Irish citizens in Paris to exercise extreme caution and to follow the instructions of local officials.
More details on travel and transport arrangements can be found here.
We’ve all heard and read reports of ‘carnage’ at the Bataclan last night but a picture is worth a thousand words…
A couple comfort each other outside the venue:
A survivor makes an important phone call as she walks away from the venue:
Investigators inspect a lifeless body outside the Bataclan:
Some more detail on Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s comments to Morning Ireland earlier…
“I was reading some material when I saw the newsflash, the same as citizens all around the world,” he told host Cathal Mac Coille
“It’s the blackest of black days for Paris, for France and its citizens and through them on, the citizens of the free world.”
He said it was an “appalling and horrendous attack on the free world”.
“Obviously this was coordinated, at six different locations. 120 people dead, 200 injured.”
“My thoughts and sympathies are with the bereaved, the French people. The second time in ten months… I recall specifically walking down the streets of Paris with all the leaders of the European Union and other countries linked arm in arm in solidarity and against evil which is what this is.”
The Taoiseach said authorities in France were trying to determine who was responsible, and how the attacks were planned and coordinated.
He noted that some 200 world delegations were due in the city at the end of the month for the COP21 Paris climate conference, but stressed that the priority was to express the sympathies of the world to the French people.
“We hope and pray that those others who planned this will be brought to justice in the shortest possible time.”
Sky News has been speaking to a number of survivors to the attacks across the city through translators.
One man who was at the Bataclan told the broadcaster that the concert had started about 30 minutes before the attack started.
“We heard firecracker noises and we turned around and saw two young people – well we were a bit far away – with machine guns firing into the crowd.
So we all laid on the ground. There was panic, screams, shots continued to be fired. At the right of the stage, a door opened and we all rushed there.
“Stuck there. It was leading to a staircase. We got stuck in a staircase for five to 10 minutes.
“People were trying to force some doors open but they only led to dressing rooms and green rooms so it didn’t lead to anything.
“Someone managed to open a door that led to the roof. We got up to the rooftop. We waited for a while and there was a man who had an apartment with a window that opened onto a rooftop. He opened the window and let us into his apartment. We stayed the whole time at his place.
“We could hear gunshots, explosions, screams. We didn’t know what was going on really.”
You have, no doubt, seen this image countless times since last night.
DailyEdge.ie writes: One artist’s poignant response to the tragedy has struck a chord with many. Jean Jullien, a French graphic designer based in London, shared a powerful image entitled Peace For Paris on his Instagram last night.
The moving twist on the peace icon has resonated with the masses – Boing Boing has even hailed it as “the internet’s official response” to the atrocities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing assistance on one injured Irish citizen in Paris.
Another witness spoke to Sky News about how his neighbourhood restaurants were hit in the wave of attacks.
“I heard some noise when I was at the bistro which is where I work. I got out and started running. I was looking for where the sound was coming from.
I figured out it was coming from… I arrived at the scene and there were lots of dead bodies on the ground. Lots of dead bodies.
“At that moment, you can’t tell if this is real or fiction, a movie. Whatever the case, a lot of people are dead.”
President Francois Hollande has said that the attacks last night were “an act of war” in a televised address this morning.
He blamed the Islamic State group for the terrorist attacks.
During his speech this morning, Hollande announced that France will hold three days of mourning.
He said that last night’s atrocities were planned carefully from outside France with coordination inside the country.
President Hollande also put the death toll at 127.
He told his citizens that France is strong and that she will always win against tyranny.
In blaming the so-called Islamic State group, he referred to them as the Daech terrorist army.
More from President Hollande’s defiant address this morning:
“We’re protecting the citizens and the country in this state of emergency. I pay homage to the country’s forces who fought the terrorists yesterday.
“Everyone has given the utmost. Everyone will put in the maximum effort in the coming days. France was attacked in a cowardly way, violently.
“France will be unbreakable in the face of these attacks. All possible measures will be taken.
We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace in this most serious, unhappy and uncertain time in this country.
“I call for unity, courage and I will address the parliament, united at Versailles on Monday, to work out how to battle this.
France is strong and even if she is wounded, she will get up always and nothing can hold her down even if we are feeling the grief now.
“France is solid. She is active. She is vigilant. And she will triumph.
My dear compatriots, we will defend ourselves. It is our country – and more than that. It is about humanity.
“Everyone must remember their unity. Long live France.”
Live footage on rolling news stations are showing small crowds gathering around restaurants where people were killed last night.
Police have not cordoned off the area. People are able to walk close to the buildings where militants opened fire last night.
The scenes are quiet with Sky News reporting that there are queues in the area of people willing to give blood.
More breaking news from Paris…
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin will say a Mass at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral this morning at 11am to remember the victims of last night’s tragedies.
In a statement, he warned about the dangers of fundamentalism and said the events were an example of what happens when religion is distorted for ideological reasons.
The Islamic State group, after being blamed by French president Francois Hollande, admits it was behind last night’s attacks which left 127 people dead in Paris.
Meanwhile, Russia has spoken with its Foreign Minister saying the attacks “justify” a stronger fight against radical jihadists in Syria.
Islamic State has said that France will remain a ‘top target’ as long as continues its current policies.
It said it carefully studied the locations for the attacks.
The statement they issued is in French but we’re hoping to have an English translation soon.
In a separate development, a terminal at Gatwick Airport has been evacuated because of a suspect package.
Syria’s embattled president Bashar al-Assad has come out to condemn Friday’s attacks, speaking to Lebanese TV.
He said:
What France suffered from savage terror is what the Syrian people have been enduring for over five years.
We mentioned earlier people were queuing up to give blood. Here’s photographic evidence of that.
Here’s more from that statement from Islamic State in which they say France continues to be a target:
“Eight brothers carrying explosive belts and guns targeted areas in the heart of the French capital that were specifically chosen in advance: the Stade de France during a match against Germany which that imbecile François Hollande was attending; the Bataclan where hundreds of idolaters were together in a party of perversity as well as other targets in the 10th, 11th and 18th arrondissement…”
France and those who follow its path must know that they remain the principal targets of the Islamic State.
(This is the statement, in French)
A timeline of terror…
We’ve compiled a quick look at exactly how events unfolded last night from 9.25pm local time.
Le Monde has published an extremely distressing video, taken by one of its journalists, of the back door of the Bataclan as concertgoers tried to escape the four terrorists who had opened fire on the crowd.
A man and a woman can be seen dangling from second and third storey windows, while there are a number of bodies lying outside the entrance.
People can be seen dragging injured people away from the deadly scene, while others hobble away from the area.
Gunshots can be heard continuously in the background, as well as shouts from a man looking for somebody called Oscar.
There is a lot of talk right now about whether or not Islamic State is responsible – or if they are merely ‘taking credit’.
The Guardian has spotted what it calls a ‘key mistake’ in the statement.
The statement mentions an attack in the 18th district but there was no attack there. The Stade du France is in the Saint-Denis area.
According to the newspaper, “It is possible the group has mixed these places up, although it does mention that attack earlier in the sentence.”
BREAKING
A man was arrested in Germany last week and there are now thought to be clear links between him and the Paris attacks.
Here is what AFP has to say on the matter:
Bavaria’s state premier Horst Seehofer said that there was “reason to believe” that a man arrested last week with several weapons in southern Germany was linked to attackers who killed more than 128 people in Paris.
“There is reason to believe that this is possibly linked” to the attacks, Seehofer told a party conference.
Police had confirmed the arrest on 5 November during a routine check on a motorway, saying “many machine guns, revolvers and explosives” were found in the suspect’s vehicle.
Meanwhile, David Cameron has told the UK that it must be “prepared for a number of British casualties”.
In an extremely strongly worded statement, he called the “sickening” terrorist attacks the worst acts of violence in Paris since WWII.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland has said that they are providing help to one Irish person injured in the attacks. They have been give no further indications that there were any more Irish citizens caught up in the attacks.
U2′s Bono has been chatting to Dave Fanning on 2fm about cancelling their two imminent Paris gigs.
He said their “first thoughts are with Eagles (of Death Metal) fans”.
The majority of victims last night are music fans…this is the first direct hit on music that we’ve had in this so-called war on terror… Whatever its called… It’s very upsetting… These are our people.
The band had been tweeting from Paris before the tragic events unfolded.
Some poignant shots from outside the French Embassy in Dublin this morning.
Police in Paris have asked people not to spread incorrect information. This comes after rumours of a car chase and gunshots in Bagnolet were spread across social media.
There was no truth to the rumours.
Our columnist Tom Clonan warns that more attacks in Paris could be imminent. He writes:
The attacks were also carefully timed to diffuse and dilute the French security response. To allow a greater amount of time in the ‘kill zone’. Hence the unusually high death toll. To kill so many people, so deliberately, in such a short time speaks of a level of determination and training associated with a terrorist organisation growing in strength and confidence.
As a consequence, this will not be the last such attack in France or elsewhere in the EU.
Islamic State and their affiliates have shown a fast learning curve in mounting such attacks. They will see this operation in Paris as a stellar success and will be emboldened to repeat the exercise. It will also encourage copy-cat attacks elsewhere.
Ireland is among those states that needs to sit up and take notice of the lessons learned by all sides in Friday’s horrific killings. Terrorism is here to stay.
The Elysèe palace tweeted this Vine earlier.
This man appeared at the Bataclan this afternoon on his bike. He had a piano with him, played a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine and left.
Let’s return to the statement David Cameron gave to British television earlier. It can easily be labelled as ‘fighting talk’.
They also not-so-subtly suggest a culture divide between the victims and the terrorists.
Here are his words, in full:
“The events in Paris are the worst act of violence in France since the Second World War. The worst terrorist attack in Europe for a decade. A horrifying and sickening attack.
Our hearts go out to the French people, and to all those who lost loved ones. Today the British and French people stand together, as we have so often before in our history when confronted by evil.
“Shocked, but resolute. In sorrow, but unbowed. My message to the French people is simple: Nous sommes solidaires avec vous. Nous sommes tous ensemble. We stand with you. United.
While the full picture of what happened is still emerging, we know that there were multiple terror incidents across Paris and over 120 people are feared dead with many more injured.
“We must be prepared for a number of British casualties, and we are doing all we can to help those caught up in the attack.
These were innocent victims enjoying a Friday night out with friends and family, no doubt at the end of a hard week.
“They were not seeking to harm anyone. They were simply going about their way of life – our way of life.
And they were killed and injured by brutal, callous murderers who want to destroy everything our two countries stand for. Peace. Tolerance. Liberty. But we will not let them.
“We will redouble our efforts to wipe out this poisonous extremist ideology and, together with the French and our allies around the world, stand up for all we believe in.
“I have just chaired a meeting of COBR to review the security situation here in the UK. The threat level is already at severe, which means an attack is highly likely, and will remain so.
“Our police and intelligence agencies work round the clock to do all they can to keep us safe. Ever since the co-ordinated firearms attacks in Mumbai in 2008, we have all been working together to ensure we could respond to such an attack.
This summer police and other emergency services carried out a major exercise to test our response for multiple firearms attacks. And in light of last night’s attacks, we will of course review our plans and make sure we learn any appropriate lessons.
“It is clear that the threat from ISIL is evolving. Last night’s attack suggests a new degree of planning and coordination and a greater ambition for mass casualty attacks.
“And we must recognise that however strong we are, however much we prepare, we in the UK face the same threat. That’s why we continue to encourage the public to remain vigilant.
“And we will do all we can to support our police and intelligence agencies with the resources and the capabilities they need.
The terrorist aim is clear. It is to divide us and to destroy our way of life. So more than ever we must come together and stand united. And carry on with the way of life that we love, and that we know, and that will never be moved off.
“I hope to speak to President Hollande later today and I’ll make clear that we will do whatever we can to help.
Your values are our values. Your pain is our pain. Your fight is our fight. And together, we will defeat these terrorists.
The Sydney Opera House is the latest iconic landmark to turn blue, white and red in solidarity with Paris.
Identifying victims is a slow task at the moment as the focus was on getting survivors from the Bataclan to hospital last night.
Many bodies remained in the venue overnight.
French media outlet Libération also says that many of those who were at the concert lost wallets and IDs or left them in bags and coats.
The Eiffel Tower turns off its lights every morning at 1am. But overnight, other landmark buildings across the world turned theirs on.
The Eiffel Tower and other attractions in France, including Disneyland Paris, are closed today.
It is reportedly the first time EuroDisney has closed for a day since it opened its magical gates in 1992.
A statement on its website reads:
More on the closure of the Eiffel Tower.
Management has told AFP it will remain closed “indefinitely” after the attacks.
There was a lot of chat and criticism last night about a tweet Wexford TD Mick Wallace sent from his account.
He defended the remarks on this afternoon, saying he does not condone terrorism.
“I don’t say things lightly. I feel very strongly about [the issue],” he told RTÉ’s Saturday with Claire Byrne show.
Wallace said he was shocked by last night’s attacks, calling them “completely unjustifiable”.
It was an inhumane act… It’s too bad for words. Under no circumstances do I condone the likes of Isis.
“It’s just horrific. It hardly bears thinking about… And all the people that died are so innocent of anything that’s going on.”
Here’s another look at the unnamed man with the portable piano who played a version of Imagine outside the Bataclan today.
People continue to gather around the six locations where people lost their lives last night, leaving tributes, flowers and other gestures of solidarity.
Sand was laid to cover blood stains outside the restaurants where the first attacks happened last night.
The French Football Federation has confirmed that a friendly match between France and England due to be played on Tuesday in Wembley will go ahead.
This tweet from a 19-year-old student in Chelsea has been retweeted more than 63,000 times as a debate about the refugee and migrant crisis swirls around social media in the wake of the Paris attacks.
JUST IN FROM PARIS…
One of the terrorists who wreaked havoc at the Bataclan last night was a Frenchman known to police, AFP has learned.
Another journalist, who works for Liberation, said police identified him by his fingerprints.
There are also reports of a Syrian passport being found near the body another militant. But he has yet to be formally identified.
The US State Department has confirmed that an unknown number of Americans were injured in the attacks.
A statement from deputy spokesman Mark Toner read:
The United States Embassy in Paris is working round the clock to assist American citizens affected by this tragedy. The US government is working closely with French authorities to identify American victims. We are aware there are Americans among the injured, and are offering them the full range of consular assistance.
Here are the latest figures from Paris:
128 people have died
300 people are in hospital
80 people are in a ‘critical condition’
53 people have been discharged from hospital
Like many of us, Stephen Colbert did not know what to say last night when closing out The Late Show.
Devastating images are still emerging of survivors in Paris. These men were pictured outside the city morgue this morning.
Such a heartbreaking contrast to new images just found of Eagles of Death Metal playing to an engaged crowd moments before the venue was attacked.
In the chaos of the Bataclan last night, many people left behind belongings – clothes, wallets, shoes and jewellery which are still strewn across the streets.
Little signs of a normal Friday night gone horrifically wrong.
As information slowly emerges about some of those killed in last night’s attacks, officials have confirmed that at least three foreign nationals – two Belgians and a Portuguese man – are among the dead.
David Cameron has also warned of the possibility of “a number” of British victims.
The Paris attacks are the deadliest in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of March 2004, as this AFP graphic shows.
The Dáil is to hold a minute’s silence in memory of the Paris victims on Tuesday.
The mark of respect will be followed by statements to express sympathy and solidarity with the French people, Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said.
BREAKING: Dutch police say a France-bound plane has been evacuated at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport following “threats” posted on Twitter.
“We always take threats very seriously and we decided here to evacuate the passengers and to search the aircraft,” a police spokesperson told AFP.
Thousands of people are marching through Dublin this lunchtime in a show of solidarity with the victims of last night’s attacks.
In Cork, two tricolours fly over City Hall:
At Gatwick Airport, a 41-year-old Frenchman is being questioned over ”what appears to be a firearm”, Sussex Police say.
The London School of Economics has named anti-corruption lawyer Valentin Ribet as a victim of the attack. He is the first person named.
More on the incident at Gatwick Airport.
Sussex Police say that the North Terminal is now open.
A statement says the man is being interviewed:
Police were called at around 9.30am following suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item in a bin at the airport. Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists were called to the airport to investigate the item and carried out a small controlled explosion.
Personal items and what appears to be a firearm were recovered and have been removed for forensic examination. However, the viability of the weapon has yet to be established.
A 41-year-old man from Vendôme in France was arrested at the scene at the time of the report on suspicion of firearms offences. He was ‘landside’ at the airport and had not checked in or passed through any passport or security checks.
Palestinian Islamist groups have condemned last night’s attacks.
Senior figures in Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip but is considered by the US and EU to be a terrorist group, and Islamic Jihad criticised the killings that rocked the French capital.
Nafez Azzam, a member of Islamic Jihad’s political bureau, told AFP: “We condemn this crime in Paris against innocent people, this message of hatred.”
“Islam rejects indiscriminate killing,” he added.
One of those apparently responsible for the attacks, found with a Syrian passport, entered Europe through Greece last month, a Greek minister says.
Belgian police have raided a neighbourhood of the capital Brussels in connection with the deadly attacks in Paris, local TV station RTBF reported.
The network quoted an unidentified source as saying up to three raids were being carried out in the Molenbeek district in connection with the Paris attacks but police were not immediately available for comment.
One man has been arrested.
In Paris, several witness reported that some of the attackers arrived in a vehicle with Belgian license plates.
These are just some of the faces of loved ones still missing in Paris.
London’s Tower Bridge has lit up in support of the people of Paris.
The US Army’s American football team took the field for their game with Tulane today carrying US and French flags.
Many on Twitter are sharing the words of then-London mayor Ken Livingstone in the wake of the 7/7 bombings a decade ago.
Livingstone’s words closed with a message directly to the perpetrators.
Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has postponed his trip to Europe, condemning what he called “crimes against humanity”.
Rouhani had been due to hold talks in Rome today with Pope Francis as well as Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi before travelling on to the French capital.
Rouhani sent a message of condolence to French President Francois Hollande on the shootings.
Thousands of Irish and French marched side-by-side this afternoon in a sombre solidarity march to remember those who died in last night’s terror attack in Paris.
“I just moved to Dublin from Paris six weeks ago, after six years. So I feel like Paris is kind of my home.”
“I got on the bus and people were just chatting normally, it was just so so strange. Some people didn’t know. It was just like, why has everything not stopped? Why has the world not stopped?”
Among the thousands marching in Dublin, many French people struggled for words to describe their feelings:
“I don’t know, I don’t have any feeling today, ” Alex says with his country’s flag draped over his shoulders. “I just now want to be with my family in France.”
Ireland’s flag will fly at half-mast tomorrow on State buildings.
The wife of Eagles of Death Metal drummer Julian Dorio struggles with last night’s events after the band survived among the scores murdered in the Bataclan theatre.
French international footballer Lassana Diarra has confirmed that his cousin was killed in one of last night’s attacks.
Diarra was playing for his country in the Stade De France when his cousin was killed.
Several people have now been arrested in Brussels during police raids connected to the attacks in Paris.
Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens said on RTBF television that these arrests in the capital’s Molenbeek neighbourhood “can be seen in connection with a grey Polo car rented in Belgium” found near the concert hall in the French capital where scores of people were killed.
Parking tickets from Molenbeek were found inside the car with Belgian license plates, Belgian media said.
The media reported that at least five people were arrested during the raids, but the number was not confirmed officially.
In Paris, several witnesses reported that some of the attackers arrived in a vehicle with Belgian license plates.
Another person has died following yesterday’s attack. Almost 500 people have either died or been injured.
The UK’s Foreign Office has confirmed that at least one Briton is among the dead.
Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier warned of the possibility of “a number” of British victims.
The Paris prosecutor has said that yesterday’s coordinated terror attack was carried out by three separate teams working together.
Vigils were held in Dublin, Galway and Cork today for those who died.
There were some emotional scenes:
Greek media are reporting that two of the suspected Paris attackers entered Europe through the Greek island of Leros. One in August and the other in October.
Parisians who live near the Le Carillon café where 14 people were gunned down last night describe their horror and fear after finding out what happened.
One says that going out for a Coca-cola and a chat are parts of everyday life in Paris.
Paris prosecutor Francois Molins has given some more details of the current state of the investigation.
He says that seven terrorists carried out the attack and that a passport found near one of the suicide bombers says that he was a 25-year-old Syrian national.
Molins said the attackers had worked in three teams, striking seven times in quick succession on Friday night.
“A Syrian passport in the name of a person born in Syria in September 1990 was found near a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the Stade de France,” Molins told a press conference.
The family of British citizen Nick Alexander have released a statement after his death in last night’s terror attack was confirmed.
Alexander was working in the Bataclan theatre when the two gunman stormed the concert and began murdering those in attendance.
His family say that he was ‘generous, funny and fiercely loyal’.
Tomorrow’s Sunday papers are also likely to be dominated by the horrors of Paris. The Independent on Sunday says they’re standing in defiance.
All four members of U2 lay flowers at the site of the last night’s deadly concert attack.
The band were supposed to play in the French capital this evening but their gig was cancelled.
Some of the survivors of the attack on the Bataclan theatre have been telling AFP how they escaped the slaughter.
Loic Wiels said he could feel the bodies hitting the floor around him at the Paris music hall where team of assailants opened fire.
The bullets whizzed so close, he was hit by the wood splinters they sent flying. And under his feet he could feel the blood that had poured out of the wounded and the dead.
In the packed hall, which can hold up to 1,500 spectators, the rock group had been playing for about 45 minutes when the explosions rang out.
Someone in the audience joked: “It’s firecrackers.”
“I turn around and I see two guys with Kalashnikovs. They were dressed normally: jeans and sneakers. At first I thought they were shooting in the air. Then I saw people falling over,” said Sylvain Raballant, 42.
Everyone that was in the pit, like Wiels and Raballant, hit the floor.
“I saw three attackers, two of them clearly. One looked like a young guy, with a three-day beard. The other was closely shaved, wearing small eye glasses and some kind of yellow beret. He was also wearing what I took for a bullet-proof vest. It was actually an explosive vest,” said Wiels.
Belgian police guard a street in Brussels on Saturday where arrests were made linked to the attacks in Paris.
A spokesperson for Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office says the arrests came after a car with Belgian license plates was seen close to the Bataclan theatre.
Several reports of police activity in Paris tonight.
More reports from the scene of the Pullman Hotel where a police operation is apparently ongoing.
A police operation underway at the Parisian hotel has led to the evacuation of the Eiffel Tower area which is just several hundred metres from hotel.
France’s Interior Ministry has said that the police operation near the Eiffel Tower has been ruled as a ‘false alarm’.
The city is on high alert tonight.
Britain stands with its nearest neighbour.
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Wouldn’t it be great if the houses were left in good condition by the tenants!
@Sean O’Murchu: how do you know they weren’t? How long have they been out of use? how old are they? what is the nature of the refurb? has there been damage done since they were empty? you clearly have great knowledge of this please share.
@Mick Wall: More than likely anecdotal which can’t be written off as you won’t see official figures on it. I’ve seen it myself through a friend who is a council worker in my town. There are huge numbers of tenants who make absolute s*** of houses and I’ve seen photos that he took of sinks torn from walls, refuse in the attic and countless other stuff. Not all thankfully as some do take care of their houses, but there has to be consequences who leave their house in a state like this.
@Sean O’Murchu: No matter what the condition the house is left in the LA will return it to basic condition before new tenants move in. That means if there are the likes of a fitted kitchen and the bathroom done up with walk in shower the LA will rip it out and replace it with the basics bath so nobody can complain that ‘so and so had a walk in shower in their house but we only have a bath, it’s not fair we want a shower as well’
@Sean O’Murchu: left a council house 4 years ago to move into our self build . All the former house needed was a fresh lick of paint. House lay idle for 3.5 years. Council eventually came in, gutted it and started again. Absolute disgrace and waste of money. Therefore I’ll take some issue with your sweeping generalisation.
@Longlin: having lived in a council estate for last 37 years I’m pretty certain you can change the word ‘most’ to ‘almost all’ and stop sounding so sanctimonious
@Michael Duffy: 30 odd years ago kildare co co were giving people the opportunity to build their own houses, you bought the fully serviced site from the co co, had about a year to build from planning permission, type of house and size was restricted there was a mixture of 2 story and single which gave a nice mix of houses, I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would jump at the chance if councils bothered….
They will be counted as new builds to reach targets
Creative bookkeeping
@Michael Lyons: true.
@Michael Lyons: whether it’s a refitted or A New Build it’s a House For living in YET more important Question is who left them in such a State and will they pay towards the refit
Why do we have so many vacant properties during a housing crisis? The constant renovation when someone moves out needs to be looked at, not all of the properties will need renovation, however the council still carry out the work. How we invest in the stock and it’s management needs to be overhauled and stop giving money to private landlords via HAP.
@Mango mango: most landlords would be only delighted not to have to deal with HAP.
@Elizabeth Barry: what’s wrong with HAP
@Craig Clancy: Kinda hard to fiddle your taxes when the Government knows exactly how much you’re taking in.
@Craig Clancy: The problem with Hap is the red tape it’s a slow tedious paper based application system which trys to be all things, they even ask for the LPT registration number for the property and tax clearance certs which is revenues job. They also look for things like proof of ownership and it is replicated each time you change tenants it would be better if it was a one time application online by landlords and then tenants sign up too and you just add and delete. With that kind of messing ppl just avoid it
@Craig Clancy: it only inflates rental costs.
@Mango mango: One of the things that needs to be looked at is the number of 3/4bd state owned housing units that are inhabited by single people, elderly couples, ect. The ‘home for life’ model needs to be done away with.
@Mango mango: Ireland is probably the only country in the world to have modified its Equality Legislation so that turning down a HAP tenant can see a landlord facing prosecution under this legislation. Which is bizarre because landlords don’t reject HAP tenants per se; they reject a system where rent is paid in arrears, there is an inspection regime, etc. If HAP was so attractive and lucrative to landlords they would hardly have to legislate to attempt to force landlords to take HAP tenants now would they?
@Tommy Roche: They would have to buy out lot’s of resident’s as they would have contracts. It would obviously increase supply if done but it would cost lot’s of €uro.
@Carpentoza: some good suggestions there. It’s a shame it won’t go further than a comment on here. (I’m not apportioning any blame by the way!)
@Craig Clancy: it’s poorly administrated and based on the records of council leases rather than the records of rent supplement.
People on rent supplement pays their rent, people not paying their rents is people with serious issues and very small. The officers changes to pay directly to the landlord when there is factual evidence and risk of not paying rent.
In HAP by default every tenant is treated a thief and disable.
The landlords don’t like the rule of payment in arrears (at the end of the service)
The rest of the rules of HAP are a must for anyone renting a dwelling. So only rogue landlords are against and landlords who have commit frauds (cash grants and loans to bring the standard up but the dwelling still substandard, this is the biggest issue, be caught stealing money of the taxpayers)
The law managing the scheme is from 2014, the law permits the councils to administer the payment as per the individual circumstances … they don’t do it …
The council officers have got into the habit to give away one full month to the landlords with the blessing of the RTB … unbelievable
And then comes the data protection issues, if a person needs assistance to pay their rent, it isn’t of the business of their landlords. If the landlord is no complying with the law, it’s his problem and fault, not the problem of the tenant
The principles behind of assistance to pay rents are an unfounded discriminatory perception of tenants, as inferior citizens with intellectual disability because of entering in a private contract to be live independently
@Daniel Kelly: Local authority tenants don’t have long-term contracts. They have rental agreements/leases which are renewed yearly.
@Maria Quinn: the own government knows the HAP rules are inadequate.
There is a new HAP called HAP Homeless were the rules is the payment is in advance and the flexibility of the limits is the double. So the landlord receives the rent in full from the HAP accountants. And the tenant contribution is truly the 16% of their income. Only homeless people in hostel homeless can be in this scheme.
The Sen Fain and Labour party as well as Threshold and other organizations asked last Christmas to the committee to extend this to anyone in the normal HAP. In these cases council mess is incredible, only because they refused to give the payment to the tenant and then pay the full rent to the landlord (as in rent supplement) it doesn’t change the date of collect the rent and the full rent comes as one from one source
These tenants are also paying more than the 16% of their income on rent and official they are classified as their housing needs have been met in equality to anyone in a council house. There are paying up to 60% of their income and lucky them they won’t lose their homes.
Do the maths, does it make any sense?
@Mango mango: Many landlords bitten by tenants that refuse/can’t pay, plus the high tax rate means that often renting out a property is often not worth the hassle.
The corporate landlords don’t have to pay the ridiculous tax
@Craig Clancy: What’s right with HAP more like
@Elizabeth Barry:
Lies
@Tommy Roche: do u wnat to kick people out of their homes for other people then?
@Tommy Roche: It’s the level of rent that is reviewed annually not the right to reside/contract. I can guarantee you anybody that pays money for a good or service has a contract. In addition, if your statement was correct, any young one could get pregnant and move out a single person due to need by demanding the local authority house they want. Your assumption is incorrect!
@ChronicAnxiety: that’s why that state paid €436m in HAP payments in 2020. Think of all the houses that would build.
@Mango mango: There are many good tenant under HAP, but if you fall into the trap of the bad ones you will regret renting to them. They will bleed you dry. You would have to provide everything for them save feeding them and if you don’t you would facing RTB and possibly court.
Apart from bureaucracy, most of the problems derives from private rental standard which landlords can’t avoid. How can the tenants look after the property if they have no skin in it?
When people compare rental properties in Ireland to Germany or other part of Europe, they forget that over there tenants have to furnish the house themselves making them a responsible tenant unlike here. Landlords will be happy there to give a longer lease at a low price HAP or not.
@Jacob: my point is that we have money in this country to solve the housing crisis, it should not sit within the private market to solve. The private market only drives up costs because that’s it’s purpose. The sate should be ashamed at how they are investing all of our money and their poor investment is not only creating a financial crisis but a very real social crisis.
Hard to believe 3,000 State owned houses empties because of funding to make them liveable …. while the paying hotel rooms to families homeless …. helping to pay rents to full-time workers … and doubling the rent a landlord can ask for taking a person registered as homeless in the homelessness section
Great math !!!
Do not the coalition government needs foreigners investors to balance the accounts
@Maria Quinn: Almost a thousand families living in hotels.
Wonder how many will accept a council house offer ??
Be surprised if its 50%
Selective homelessness should be a separate statistic.
Vacant in the first place for no reason. Many are perfectly fine and safe to live in. Why it takes a few months from expression of internet to moving in is beyond me. Should be done within 2 weeks. Otherwise move onto the next person on the list. And BUILD BUILD BUILD.
A one bed is fine for a lot of people
How long have these homes been vacant for. I bet years and years, but it takes the rise of SF for them to finally get off there holes and do something. Just shows the utter contempt they held (and still do with the rubbish restrictions they want to bring in) the people of ireland in.
@Alan Wright: Sinn Fein would like the whole country living in local authority houses
@John O: and FG thinks 400k for a 2 bed is “affordable”.
Go on minister Daragh O’Brien , blame covid again for the housing crisis that’s has been building up for the last 30 years. I dare ya.
I have seen a couple of council houses left in immaculate condition and before re letting the council have replaced what was new flooring and a perfect kitchen. Why do they have to replace that which is not broken. Such a waste of money.
And in Dún Laoghaire, the council knocked down a large row of social houses and now there is a big grocery store and abandoned plots
There’s been a housing shortage for years and it’s only now they decide to renovate their vacant stock? Why was so much money poured into Haps and Hotels when it could have helped renovate existing homes?
Everyone talks about building housing – What about building roads and infrastructure first to support such massive housing plans? Convoluted thinking!
And it’s high time apartments are prioritised (and incentivised) as building up is the only way forward…
Maybe – -just maybe
If someone wanted a house and wanted it badly from the council. Maybe assist them in doing it up. Rember in the UK many moons ago there was assistance if needed to self-build for new homeowners, loans, land, and expert advice. People if they want to put the work in would get a house a year later. Me, if I was looking for a flat or house would more then be willing to do it up from scratch ..
@Dan: they don’t let you do that. In fact if you do have a council house and do it up to your liking, despite it being to highest spec they rip out all you’ve done and moved on and replace it with their stock as they can’t (wont) do maintenance on any of it!
Yet Dublin city council are the reason behind 1000 apartments failing to get planning. Piecemeal approach again by gov who fail to tackle the complicated problem with a systemic and well thought through plan, instead just knee jerk reactions playing to the gallery and utterly failing those trying to get a house or a home they can call their own.
Takes too long for LA’s to refurbish houses.
W.T.F Why are there so many lying vacant in the first place?
@Gary: Usually because the last social tenants burned the doors, window frames and staircases before the councils’ re-housed them somewhere else to repeat the whole process
@John Mc Donagh: These vacant properties could house 3000 family’s that are currently homeless. Living in hotels or receiving housing assistance payment. It would be far more cheaper to fix up a house. 2017 figures state it costs €155 on average for a family per night in a hotel. That’s €56,000 over a year. And for the people causing the damage and getting moved somewhere else. Take money from there social welfare until the money has been paid back
@John Mc Donagh: Eh no its not, it’s because no matter what the house is like even if it is immaculate with new kitchen, bathroom, wooden floors etc the council rip them all out and return it to a basic standard, it happens with every council house after a Tennant moves, it’s nothing to do with “burning doors” and whatever else your cousins aunts, dogs, friends, brothers hairdresser told you. Do you honestly think if a Tennant done what you describe they would be rehoused by the local authority, not a chance
@John Mc Donagh: that’s definitely not true in all cases, loads of council houses in Galway in perfect condition and left empty, one two doors down from me, that anyone would be happy to live in, has been empty for the last two year’s
@Simon Carroll: Do I honestly think that a tenant that did that would be re-housed?—–I do I have seen it happen!
@Sean. I left a council house 4 years ago to move into our self build . All the former house needed was a fresh lick of paint. House lay idle for 3.5 years. Council eventually came in, gutted it and started again. Absolute disgrace and waste of money. Therefore I’ll take some issue with your sweeping generalisation.
Whoopy s#ite that’s a drop in the ocean. Deliver public housing for workers who cannot afford to buy, or pay outrageously high rents for sub standard hovels not just social welfare recipients. We need a general election to get the FFGG/vulture fund cabal out and out for good.
@Welk wrangler: fffg will still get close to 50% of the seats.
Sf have destroyed the chances of a left alliance government as no party will work with them as they are a populist party mainly.
Even their leader is a populist and will switch parties at a wim to advance her personal career.
why are there 300 local authority homes empty in a house crisis. baffling
@ed w: 3000 even!!
Funny how they are spinning the fact that they have just left them to rot in the middle of the worst housing situation in our history. And now they are making out they are the heroes
Who will do it? Due to extraordinary bad foresight by various Governments since 2010 there has been very few construction apprentices registered and we are now suffering the consequences. They disbanded FAS and created a useless organization called Solas which sat on their hands and dreamed up new apprenticeships that were already there and claimed credit for them. Took there eye off the ball.
is it just me, or does it sort of stand out that the percentage of units requiring repairs is about 10% in all counties mentioned?
In the small village where I live there are two vacant houses suitable for an older person or a lone parent. One had a fire and needs a lot of work , the other one next door as they are semidetached was also slightly damaged but cannot be lived in until repairs are done. Fire was 3 years ago.
In the ongoing housing shortage crisis, refurbishing 3000 vacant local authority homes will help to address that need for some people in a relatively short timeframe, as long as the building of new social housing continues in tandem with this, then it’s a good thing.
Says the man with the extraordinarily large heed
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