Terrorists struck multiple locations throughout the city of Paris this evening. As of this writing, many details are unclear. But several locations were attacked in a coordinated fashion and the death toll is greater than 100 people.
According to initial reports, dozens were killed at the Bataclan theater, where a band was playing. Terrorists laid siege to the concert hall, executing dozens of spectators until police raided the facility.
Other locations that were attacked include the Stade de France, where a soccer match was being played between France and Germany, and restaurants in the city. Dozens of people were reportedly killed at these locations.
French President François Hollande was evacuated from the soccer stadium. Some reports say that a suicide bomber was responsible for an explosion that occurred during the soccer match.
Paris was locked down and France temporarily closed its borders. The French military has been called in to provide assistance, according to multiple reports, and a mandatory curfew was put into effect.
The simultaneous attacks are similar to those that occurred in Mumbai in November 2008. Instead of targeting a handful of distinct sites, the Mumbai attackers struck throughout the city using military-style tactics. The terrorists in Mumbai, who were sent by Lashkar-e-Taiba, executed a well-planned assault that shut down much of the city, just like this evening in Paris.
The Paris attacks were likely not planned overnight. The attacks required planning, scouting, financing, training, and a support network to aid the fighters. According to French media reports, Kalashnikov rifles were used in at least some of the attacks. Unidentified explosives and possibly suicide vests were as well.
This is the second time this year that Paris has been hit with a major terrorist attack. In January, the Kouachi brothers systematically targeted the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine. The brothers said they were sent by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and the al Qaeda branch claimed responsibility. AQAP said the massacre at Charlie Hebdo was carried out under orders from Ayman al Zawahiri. A friend of the Kouachis, Ahmed Coulibaly, launched his own attacks at a Kosher market and elsewhere. But Coulibaly’s shootings were not planned by AQAP. Coulibaly swore allegiance to the Islamic State and said he was acting on behalf of the “caliphate.”
No group has claimed responsibility as of yet for tonight’s attacks, which were greater in scope than the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
Supporters of the Islamic State launched a hashtag “Paris is burning” to celebrate the killings, but the organization has not officially claimed responsibility. An eyewitness interviewed on BFM TV in France said that one of the terrorists shouted, “Allah Akbar!” Other unconfirmed reports say that one of the attackers, who was apprehended, told authorities that he and others are affiliated with the Islamic State. One of the terrorists also reportedly said, “This is for Syria!”
Still, this does not yet amount to an official claim by the terror group.
“Once again we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians,” President Obama said in response to the terrorist operations in Paris. “This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.”
22 Comments
AK-47’s, the weapon of choice for terrorists and traitors. What other weapon is there that has been used to kill or maim more of our troops? No true patriot carries a AK-47.
As far as filthy Twitter, Inc. is concerned, it is time (in fact long overdue) that they be held accountable (if not criminally, then at least financially). Get the lawyers out. Get the lawsuits out. The same should apply to this California ‘death-metal’ group. What kind of security did they provide (if they provided any security at all)?
Question: What might be a simple solution to the problem? Answer: Every sane, law-abiding citizen should be allowed (or even expected) to carry a weapon (at least a sidearm). This should apply whether it’s here in America or France.
Arm yourselves America and be prepared.
The law abiding citizens should all,carry some kind of firearm.
YES,IT IS A COMMAND FROM G-D IN THE BIBLE,THAT IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO KILL YOU,YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KILL HIM FIRST.
Continuing my comment from above, my take on the matter is that it could be that bed-ridden Baghdoggy and his ilk are now becoming desperate. They are losing ground on all fronts. Heck, even the scarecrow army of a$$ad has been kicking their butts lately.
Question: So, what do terrorists do in such a bleak scenario? Answer: They launch terrorists attacks. That’s all it seems terrorists are ‘good’ for (that is to say if they can be ‘good’ at anything) is the wanton slaughter of innocent civilians. We are having to battle a suicide cult the likes of which this world has never seen.
I for one will not be surprised at all if it turns out that these thugs that carried out those attacks turn out to be a bunch of Islamic State dropouts/rejects. The French people need to demand that their gov’t explain why the heck they allowed them back in.
These actions by these thugs must be responded to via [by-way-of] massive retaliation. Hopefully, the French and/or the Russians will do so in as timely a manner as possible. My advice to the Russians (beginning with Raqqa) is to carpet bomb them. Russia has the long-range bombers at their convenience to get the job done. Hopefully they will carpet bomb them with napalm (or some other suitable incendiary device). Firebomb their cities (or where ever else they may be concentrated). Terrorize the terrorists; fight fire with fire.
Uh-huh. Anyone who uses an AK-47 is a terrorist?
Funny, I thought it was just a widely accessible and easy-to-maintain firearm. I mean, it’s not like U.S-friendly forces have ever used it, or even U.S soldiers and SOF or SAD/SOG under any number of circumstances. I guess that means they’re all traitors.
Shouldn’t it be super easy to obtain the IP address of those people posting their rhetoric on social media? I mean with an IP address then we know the exact street and house number where the PC is that posted. If it comes from a cafe then lets start looking at camera footage and such things. It’s increasingly difficult and becoming impossible for people to behind a PC these days. We need to bring these people down and very quickly. Sadly, I think we are only seeing the start of it on the streets and this will become more common.
We need to close the borders until this stuff has stopped. This is a war. Not some kind of game.
Europe needs to close it’s borders because boy are they in trouble. You know that some terrorists got through. We can’t just keep playing whack a mole. Everything, I mean everything needs to be brought to bear. The full force of all of defenses.
I don’t want our kids living in a society where at any moment these murderers can just blow them up. They shouldn’t have to. The time we need shock and awe is NOW! Not later on because it’s going to take a long time because it’s irregular warfare. Even in irregular warfare the enemy can die.
That comment made me lose brain cells……… wingnut much?
Also, FUN FACT: US troops have used Kalashnikovs as backup weapons.
A “true patriot” with a gun in every hand? Sounds like World of Warfare. A poor solution at best. Turning liberal, libertine Paris into a Wild West gun show is something only an American could suggest.
Terrorism will only be defeated in the minds of these murderers. We need a real anti-terrorism policy which rejects conservative, orthodox Islam for whom jihad is a duty.
@James, don’t let fear override common sense. More than 30,000 Americans are killed by guns every year. Over 350,000 have been killed since 9/11. More guns isn’t the answer.
Anyone who believes in more than the Golden Rule needs to have their head examined. Abrahamic religions are all Talionic. Two wrongs don’t make a right. America is almost as kooky (“One nation under God”?) as the enemy. Commands from God? Are you Joseph Smith? You don’t need a Biblical justification for killing, you need a legal and moral justification. And wiping out the Islamic State (and Al Qaeda) is about the most moral and humanitarian project the world could possibly ever engage in. Al Qaeda will now try to top Paris w an op of their own. Stay tuned….
Nobody has comments on how easy it would be to get the IP?
Those gun deaths are mostly drug trafficking related deaths. They are gang deaths.
They killed a 9 year old in Chicago after luring him to an ally. They could have just as easily knifed him to death.
Gun bans won’t accomplish what you think.
getting rid of gangs will bring our homicide rate down to Britian’s rate/
Sure Chris. Using an AK-47 in a pinch situation may be justifiable. But anyone who goes out and purchases an AK-47 by pure choice and claims to be a patriot, I seriously question their claim to patriotism. You might as well just hand over your wallet to Putin.
“US troops have used Kalashnikovs as backup weapons.”
You need to emphasize that phrase “as backup weapons” (i.e., not primary weapons).
Maybe I need to append that statement “No true patriot carries a AK-47” with “by choice”.
@Graham,
Please don’t try to edit (and insert your own logic) into my comment. Sure, in a pinch situation (or when it turns out to be more convenient) it may be overlooked. But for a civilian to go out and purchase an AK-47 when there are more than suitable substitutes out there in my assessment is not a show of patriotism. And, let’s not forget where they are made at, and who they are consistently used by, OUR ENEMIES.
Mike, I agree with you 100%. We all have a right to “LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS”, and we should all take close notice of the order of those items. First comes life, then comes liberty, and then comes ‘the pursuit of happiness’. We must defend those rights.
The AK is simply the best assault rifle hands down. It was also mass produced. Much better then our M 4.
Guns are with us, just like cars. Let’s regulate them in a similar way.
Getting rid of savagery in the minds of America’s kids would be a big help too. Let’s begin by banning football, boxing, UFC and all forms of MMA. Brain damage is not entertainment or a game!
Spent 25 years in the Army and personally own an AK. Blaming a weapon for the attacks against humanity as well as our Troops is not only silly, but irresponsible. Sounds like the same made-up logic gun control nuts spew. Consider the person pulling the trigger, not the trigger.
Are you an American or are you a citizen of India?
Ban football? Why not ban rugby? How do we account for all those gang rapes we here about in India?
Was it due to MMA, boxing, or football?
@RingerX
@RingerX, with all due respects to what you are saying, based on my original comments, what in the world would lead you to believe that I am ‘blaming . . . our troops’ for these attacks?
Using an assault rifle for self-defense (at least in 99.999% of self-defense scenarios) would be in my view like going deer hunting with a bazooka !
In fact, it is rather revealing that in the recent case at the military center in Texas, the cop was able to stop [and kill] the 2 terrorists BEFORE they could get to our troops, s/he was able to do so with a side arm, NOT an assault rifle.
As I stated before, the AK-47 has proven to be [at least in my view] the weapon of choice for terrorists and traitors. I still stand by that assertion.
With that I rest my case.