Paris terrorist attacks this evening 13/11/15

[RichmondCommu]

My son and his wife are now at the Gare du Lyon having arrived on the RER from the stadium.

 

[Saint66]

Have read on the BBC news website timeline, that the border restrictions are mainly to restrict those leaving the country, not those entering.

How bizarre to see the military on the streets of Paris... An unbelievable situation.

 

[Busaholic]

President Hollande's address to the nation, about 90 minutes ago, was translated into English as 'dozens' killed. The translation cut over his words in French, so I was unable to ascertain the exact term he used. In any case, I just hope he was wrong.

May I recommend a viewing of last night's BBC2 Newsnight which went out live at 22.40 and had some good analysis of why Paris and France are especial targets of this extremism.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My son and his wife are now at the Gare du Lyon having arrived on the RER from the stadium.

It seems nobody at the stadium was killed or injured, and earlier reports of grenades being tossed into the stadium were incorrect, thank goodness. Very glad to hear your son and his wife are safe.

 

[Saint66]

French media reporting 100 dead in the hostage situation.

 

[richw]

It seems nobody at the stadium was killed or injured, and earlier reports of grenades being tossed into the stadium were incorrect, thank goodness. Very glad to hear your son and his wife are safe.

The French football association president has said 3 dead at the stadium although seemingly outside rather than inside
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

French media reporting 100 dead in the hostage situation.

BBC quoting French media a grenade was set off inside the theatre, but terrorists are killed by police.

 

[miami]

The last Eurostar arrived on time at St Pancras at 2240. They have the train to Marseille scheduled to depart at 0719 Sat plus usual Paris Brussels departures. I assume they could be delayed/cancelled ; would people want to use Eurostar so soon ?

0720 BA flight is sold out in Economy and Business, and the flights for most of the day are >£300. This type of event drives a lot of demand -- people wanting to get home to loved ones, journalists wanting to get in to relieve their colleagues on the ground who will likely have been up for over 30 hours by tomorrrow lunchtime

Border closure seems to be people leaving the country according to the BBC - Katya Adler who's the Europe editor lives in Brussels got in about an hour ago:

"56 minutes ago

French borders not completely shut. We understand closures essentially aimed at restricting leaving France"

Sadly while people pile on security around airplanes, slamming stable doors after they shut, all it takes is a few lunatics with guns opening up a shooting game. Do it in shopping malls in the run up to Christmas, maybe a few primary schools too, and you'll cause far more fear and economic damage for a lot less effort than blowing up a plane. Expect a rise in groups like the national front in France. Those refugees are going to be erroneously blamed.

Fortunately the key benefit we have against terrorism is that hardly anyone wants to go round shooting up civilians. The trick is to keep the number that do low, and the number that don't high

 

[Saint66]

140 people reportedly killed.

 

[DarloRich]

BBC are reporting that not all of the terrorists have been captured and some are still on the loose

 

[miami]

140 people reportedly killed.

That's surpassed the Turkey attacks, but these numbers seem to crop up in Africa and the middle east every month.

Reuters are now saying that Belgium is looking at closing borders. I don't think tomorrow will be a good day to travel on eurostar, but closing all borders is a major step -- has it ever been done to a western country?

One victim of this will be Children in Need as people tune into the news after the pub, rather than children in need. I've just donated.

 

[DasLunatic]

I'm guessing this may have something to do with us (and the US) killing Jihadi John (Mohammed Emwazi) - could this be retaliation from ISIS, perhaps?

 

[miami]

I'm guessing this may have something to do with us (and the US) killing Jihadi John (Mohammed Emwazi) - could this be retaliation from ISIS, perhaps?

Organised in a couple of hours? No, that's just a coincidence.

 

[St Rollox]

Last person to have heard the news.
Terrible business.
Hopefully forums members and families are okay.

 

[backontrack]

Truly sickening, horrible news.

The last time France declared a state of national emergency is almost exactly ten years ago, on 8 November 2005.

Children in Need still raised a record £37m pounds, beating last year's £32.6.

 

[crispy1978]

Terrible, absolutely horrendous news.

Thoughts with all involved, and R.I.P. to all the innocent people killed.

 

[backontrack]

Finally.

All attackers are now believed to be dead.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder what the residents of the Calais area now feel about having so many unknown people encamped within the environs of that town.

 

[AM9]

I wonder what the residents of the Calais area now feel about having so many unknown people encamped within the environs of that town.

I doubt that the non-xenophobic members of the calais area see them as a terrorist threat. That fact won't necessarily prevent some opportunists from spreading such fears in an attempt to get the refugees summarily removed.

 

[Ironside]

Terrible news.


If it was Islamic state I imagine last nights terrorism wont advance their aims as France (and probably the UK) will throw more resources against them now rather than less.

 

[kermit]

I wonder what the residents of the Calais area now feel about having so many unknown people encamped within the environs of that town.

That it's a shame that apparently well educated people feel a need to spread baseless, poisonous and inflammatory insinuation about people they know little or nothing about? I certainly hope so.

 

[backontrack]

There's a provisional death toll of 128, with 99 in a critical condition.

 

[Butts]

That it's a shame that apparently well educated people feel a need to spread baseless, poisonous and inflammatory insinuation about people they know little or nothing about? I certainly hope so.

Guilt by association I'm afraid aka all football fans are thugs in the seventies. I'm sure Paul did not intend to insinuate all the refugees are culpable, others of a less cultured inclination may differ.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Last person to have heard the news.
Terrible business.
Hopefully forums members and families are okay.

You weren't last - I only just heard about it about 10 minutes ago.

It is indeed terrible. So sad that some people are willing to do this kind of thing to their fellow human beings.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That it's a shame that apparently well educated people feel a need to spread baseless, poisonous and inflammatory insinuation about people they know little or nothing about? I certainly hope so.

You need to read the words that I wrote, which were carefully phrased. How do you feel that the phrase "so many unknown people" conveys anything but a statement of fact. Yet you feel it is, to use your words, "baseless, poisonous and inflammatory". Are all these people in the environs of Calais "known" with passports that can be checked?

As for the fact that you state that I know little or nothing about these people gives my intelligence and cognitive reasoning ability no credit whatsoever. Unless you are privy to surveillance monitoring on my research abilities, how on earth can you make such a statement. I can assure you that I have monitored the situation in the Calais area for very many months and before you then further malign my character on this thread, I will state that the usual accusation of only reading and believing press summations cannot be applied to me.

 

[Johnuk123]

That it's a shame that apparently well educated people feel a need to spread baseless, poisonous and inflammatory insinuation about people they know little or nothing about? I certainly hope so.

Nothing that has been written on here is any of those things.

 

[GB]

Organised in a couple of hours? No, that's just a coincidence.

Well we don't know either way but it's entirely plausible the plan was already in the works and the time line moved forward.

You also have to ask how much planning is actually required with these kinds of attacks.

But as I say, too early for the public to know.

 

[Johnuk123]

Second evacuation of Gatwick now taking place.

 

[Antman]

That it's a shame that apparently well educated people feel a need to spread baseless, poisonous and inflammatory insinuation about people they know little or nothing about? I certainly hope so.

Well done.........you've missed the point completely!!

And what do you know about those camping in Calais? No more than the rest of us I suspect which rather proves the original point:roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I doubt that the non-xenophobic members of the calais area see them as a terrorist threat. That fact won't necessarily prevent some opportunists from spreading such fears in an attempt to get the refugees summarily removed.

The point is, nobody knows who these people are. It's nothing to do with xenophobia its just stating the obvious!

 

[Dave1987]

The security correspondents for various news agencies have been saying this kind of atrocity was possible since the migrant crisis started. Now I am not trying to turn this into an argument against the EU and migrants but they have repeatedly saying that we simply do not know who these people are who are entering the EU. Once they are into the Schengen Area they can go whenever they want to really. I really feel for the victims and their families. Answers need to be sought as to whether these militants are getting in posing as refugees.

 

[Jonny]

According to the BBC News TV channel, ISIS have claimed responsibility.

Also, according to BBC News all eight suspects are dead; seven detonated themselves, including three at the Stade de France and France has re-instated border controls.

Edit: The BBC News website has this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34820016

 

[miami]

The security correspondents for various news agencies have been saying this kind of atrocity was possible since the migrant crisis started. Now I am not trying to turn this into an argument against the EU and migrants but they have repeatedly saying that we simply do not know who these people are who are entering the EU. Once they are into the Schengen Area they can go whenever they want to really. I really feel for the victims and their families. Answers need to be sought as to whether these militants are getting in posing as refugees.

July 7th 2005 were from Leeds
2012 Toulose attacker was French
Jan 9th 2015 Charlie Hebbo from Paris
2011 Norway was Norwegian
2012 Brussels shooting was French
The 2015 train attack was a Spanish resident, although the only perpetrator on this list born outside the EU (and Norway)

But I'm sure this time it's illegal immigration to blame. Beat the same drum enough times and you may end up being right.

97% of America thought the 9/11 hijackers were from Afghanistan or Iraq, rather than from a US ally with legal status in the country.

Fear leads to Anger
anger leads to Hate
Hate leads to suffering.