A series of deadly attacks have taken place in Paris, with as many as 40 people reported dead in a continuing hostage situation at the city’s Bataclan Theatre, which hosted a performance from US rockers Eagles Of Death Metal last night.
Various reports suggest that between 60 and 100 people are still being held in the venue’s concert hall after several shots were fired.
French television station BFMTV reports (via Reuters) that the shootings at the venue begun one hour into the Eagles Of Death Metal concert, with one or two people reportedly coming into the building and shooting into the air.
According to CNN, though, witnesses inside the venue say there are between six to eight attackers, who are now in a shootout with police.
Eagles Of Death Metal’s Facebook event page for their Paris gig is being flooded with messages of support and sadness.
Eagles of Death Metal are fronted by Jesse Hughes and features Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. According to Consequence Of Sound, Homme is not currently touring with the band on their European tour.
In what US intelligence believes could be a series of coordinated attacks, Paris soccer stadium Stade de France was also targeted, with explosions heard outside the venue. French and German national teams were competing at the venue.
There are also unconfirmed reports of further shooting elsewhere in the city at a shopping mall, while Agence France-Presse reports that Paris city authorities have called on residents to stay home after the deadly attacks.
France has declared a state of emergency after the attacks.
UPDATE 14/11/15 10:30am: French band Red Lemons have posted to Facebook (below) saying they and some Eagles Of Death Metal members made it safely out of the venue and left the area. “For our american and english friends, a terrorist attack happened at the Eagles of death metal concert. We are safe. Mikel Ross, Eric McFadden we were with your mates Jesse, Tuesday, the other musicians outside, they’re safe too, they took a cab,” the band say.
Alternative Press has also been told Eagles Of Death Metal’s Eden Galindo is okay.
A Reuters source says five explosions have also been heard at the Bataclan Theatre as police attempt to save the hostages.
UPDATE 14/11/15 10:45am: An escaped Bataclan Theatre hostage has told CNN that “terrorists calmly executed hostages, reloaded, executed again in silence”.
Deftones, who were set to perform three consecutive nights at Bataclan beginning on Saturday night, are safe and accounted for, according to Substream Magazine.
UPDATE 14/11/15 10:55am: Posting to Facebook, Eagles Of Death Metal say, “We are still currently trying to determine the safety and whereabouts of all our band and crew. Our thoughts are with all of the people involved in this tragic situation.”
UPDATE 14/11/15 11:05am: Reuters says the police operation at the Bataclan Theatre has ended, with two attackers reportedly killed. Seven coordinated attacks are reported to have taken place in Paris.
A witnesses has told Agence France-Presse that one of the attackers shouted “Allahu akbar” before firing into the crowd.
In a statement, French President François Hollande says, “We will vanquish these terrorists.”
UPDATE 14/11/15 11:25am: According to BFMTV, as many as 100 people are reported dead at Eagles Of Death Metal’s Bataclan Theatre show.
UPDATE 14/11/15 11:45am: CNN reports that at least 118 were killed in the Bataclan Theatre.
Michael Dorio, the brother of EODM drummer Julian Dorio, has told CNN that the band was on stage when the shooting took place. Once the shooting began, the band reportedly headed backstage, and ended up at a police station.
UPDATE 14/11/15 2:40pm: A representative for Eagles of Death Metal has told Pitchfork that all band members are safe.
Musicians from around the world have also united to share their love and support following the horrific attacks in Paris, with many revealing they were lucky to avoid the chaos.
We are still currently trying to determine the safety and whereabouts of all our band and crew. Our thoughts are with all of the people involved in this tragic situation. Posted by Eagles Of Death Metal on Friday, 13 November 2015
Pour rassurer les personnes qui nous savaient au concert des Eagles of death metal au bataclan, il y a eu un attentat,... Posted by Red Lemons on Friday, 13 November 2015
https://twitter.com/TimInHonolulu/status/665306452836249601 https://twitter.com/CNN/status/665325950360420352 https://twitter.com/AC360/status/665342897366044672
