Live Updates: Police Carry Out Paris Attack Raids As More Suspects And Bombers Identified

At least 129 people were killed and more than 350 were injured in a series of terror attacks Friday night. ISIS has claimed responsibility. BuzzFeed News correspondents Siraj Datoo, Max Seddon, and Ryan Broderick, as well as the BuzzFeed France team, are reporting from Paris.

What we know so far:

  • Terrorists killed at least 129 people in a series of apparently coordinated attacks across Paris involving gunfire and explosives.
  • Three teams of individuals carried out the attacks, and all were heavily armed and wearing vests packed with explosives.
  • Seven assailants were killed, with some dying after detonating bombs, officials said Saturday.
  • On Sunday, authorities released the image of Abdeslam Salah, who is wanted in connection with the attacks.
  • One of the suicide bombers was identified by a French elected official as Ismaël Omar Mostefaï. On Monday, two more were identified as Samy Amimour and Ahmad al-Mohammed.
  • One hundred and four people have been placed under house arrest following 168 antiterrorist raids overnight, France's Interior Ministry said Monday.
  • Names of some of the victims have been released.
  • For continued coverage of the Paris attacks please click here.

Updates

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For continued coverage of the Paris attacks, please click here.

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CIA chief discusses ISIS threat

CIA chief John Brennan addressed Washington, D.C.'s Center for Strategic and International Studies early Monday morning, a previously scheduled public appearance that took on new significance in the wake of Friday's devastating terrorist attack in Paris.

"My opening remarks this morning are different from those I reviewed and finalized in early afternoon last Friday," Brennan opened solemnly, offering condolences to Paris.

The spy chief, whose public appearances are few and far between, said the attacks, which have killed 132 and counting, were one of the few threats that international intelligence organizations let slip through the cracks.

"While many terrorist operations have been thwarted as the result of strong international teamwork, tragically, not all terrorist plans are uncovered in time," Brennan said. "[It is] absolutely imperative that the international community ... recommit to achieving an even greater and unprecedented level of cooperation, collaboration, information sharing and joint action. The ISIL threat demands it."

Brennan stressed that the U.S. continues working very closely with the French and several other European intelligence partners to address Europe's foreign fighter problem, as hundreds of Western Europeans have traveled to Syria to fight for the extremist Islamic State group. Refusing refugees from those regions though, Brennan said, is not the answer.

"What we don't want to do is have these terrorists succeed in taking away the freedoms and liberties that we pride ourselves on, whether it be here in the United States or in Europe," he said. "And I know that there is a rush by some to say the borders should be closed, that we should isolate ourselves. That is inconsistent with what I think our societies have been founded on over the last hundreds of years." —Ali Watkins

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Two charges in Belgium with terrorism, after raid produces no new arrests

BRUSSELS — Two people arrested in Belgium have been charged with terror-related offenses, the prosecutor's office said in a statement, though a raid Monday morning in the neighborhood of Molenbeek did not produce any additional arrests.

The prosecutor's office confirmed in a statement that five of the seven people who were arrested over the course of the weekend have been released, while two continue to be held on charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist group.

The statement also confirmed that a raid in Molenbeek, where some of the Paris attackers came from, on rue Delaunoy had produced no arrests related to the attacks.

Police laid siege to a building on rue Delaunoy on Monday as part of the manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, one of the suspected Paris attackers, who is currently on the lam. For hours, balaclava-wearing policemen carried out the raid while the streets surrounding the site were blocked.

A spokesman for Françoise Schepmans, the mayor of Molenbeek, told BuzzFeed News that five people had been arrested on Saturday, including at the home of the Abdeslam family in Molenbeek, and that two arrests had been made on Sunday. The spokesman said that loud bangs heard during the raid were not shots, but firecrackers used to warn residents about the ongoing operation. He also said that Schepmans was following the raid "minute by minute," but would not confirm details of the investigation beyond confirming that Salah Abdeslam was sought.

Abdeslam's brother Ibrahim was identified as one of the Paris attackers; he reportedly blew up his suicide vest at the Comptoir Voltaire during the coordinated attacks on Friday night.

Abdeslam's other brother Mohamed was held over the weekend and was among those released. —Rosie Gray

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"France is at war," President François Hollande said Monday while addressing an extraordinary session of Congress, including the upper and lower houses of Parliament.

Check here for more on the rare address. The French president generally addresses joint sessions of the Senate and National Assembly only in times of crisis.

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President Obama spoke about Paris terror attacks at the G-20 Summit

Obama, speaking from Antalya, Turkey, on Monday announced a new agreement that would streamline the process to share intelligence with France.

"We are united against this threat. ISIL is the face of evil," Obama said.

The president also addressed the ongoing concerns with accepting refugees from Syria. While, he said, all refugees will be subjected to rigorous screening and security checks, the door must remain open to accepting refugees.

"Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," Obama said.

For more on Obama's speech click here.

Watch the whole speech here:

View this video on YouTube

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President Obama spoke about Paris terror attacks at the G-20 Summit

Obama, speaking from Antalya, Turkey, on Monday announced a new agreement that would streamline the process to share intelligence with France.

"We are united against this threat. ISIL is the face of evil," Obama said.

The president also addressed the ongoing concerns with accepting refugees from Syria. While, he said, all refugees will be subjected to rigorous screening and security checks, the door must remain open to accepting refugees.

"Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," Obama said.

For more on Obama's speech click here.

Watch the whole speech here:

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com
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Le Pen calls for France to stop accepting migrants

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Front National party, on Monday called for France to no longer accept migrants and refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks.

France and other EU nations have agreed to resettle 160,000 refugees in the coming years, as the continent struggles to deal with a months-long tide of people fleeing conflict.

But in a statement on the Front National website, the party pointed to revelations that one of the attackers arrived in France after traveling through Greece and Serbia last month.

"Our fears and our warnings on the possible presence of jihadis among the migrants coming into our country are thus unfortunately made real by these bloody attacks," the party said.

Le Pen, whose political support has grown in France in recent years, is now demanding "the immediate end of all migrants welcomed into France and the immediate end of their spread in French communes," the party said.

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Belgian armed police raid Brussels suburb

Armed police in Belgium have launched a raid in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, as the manhunt for Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam continues.

Both Abdeslam and Abdelhamid Abaaoud — linked to planning the attacks — have links to Molenbeek. Earlier reports Salah Abdeslem had been arrested proved to be false.

Belgian Federal Magistrate Eric van der Sypt said, "Salah has not been arrested, no one has been arrested, the operations are continuing. There is still an operation continuing right now in Molenbeek," the New York Times reported.

The Belgian prosecutor said five out of seven suspects arrested in Brussels in connection to Friday's attacks in Paris have been released. This includes Mohammed Abdeslam — brother of Salah and suspected attacker Ibrahim Abdeslem — who was released without charge, AFP reported.

A spokesperson for the Molenbeek mayor told BuzzFeed News the raid had concluded, with no injuries.

Spox for Molenbeek mayor tells BuzzFeed raid is over, confirms Salah Abdeslam was being sought

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ISIS video reportedly threatens further attacks

Reuters reports that a new video purportedly from ISIS has threatened further terror attacks after Paris, including on Washington:

Islamic State warned in a new video on Monday that countries taking part in air strikes against Syria would suffer the same fate as France, and threatened to attack in Washington. "We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," one man in the video said.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the video.

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Images of France's minute's silence to commemorate Paris victims

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Bataclan owners post statement on Twitter

Dear friends,

No words can express the level of sadness we feel.

Our thoughts go to the victims, to those injured and to their loved ones. Many of you want to come to the Bataclan, but unfortunately the authorities still need to work on site. We will keep you informed as soon as it's possible for you to come and mourn in front of the concert hall.

Thank you for your support, which deeply affects us.

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Turkey says it warned France about suspect

Turkish authorities said they warned France twice in the last year about one of the suspects involved in the terrorist attack in Paris, suggesting an intelligence lapse on the part of French authorities.

French national Ismaël Omar Mostefaï's fingertip was reportedly found at the scene of the Paris's Bataclan concert hall, where armed men killed at least 89 people in a massacre that was part of a coordinated terrorist strike on several sites in the French capital. Read more

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Minute's silence held in France and across Europe

BuzzFeed News' Siraj Datoo is in Place de la République in Paris, where hundreds of people have gathered to remember the victims of Friday's attacks, despite warnings against mass public gatherings.

The silence there was ended with a spontaneous rendition of the French national anthem.

Large crowd at Republique for the minute of silence. People have been told it to gather, this is defiance.

A large group of people were holding hands during the silence.

To end the silence, the crowds spontaneously sing the Marseillaise.

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More than 100 people under house arrest following French police raids

France's Interior Ministry said it conducted 168 antiterrorism raids across the country and placed 104 people under house arrest.

A further 23 people were taken into custody for questioning. The raids found 31 weapons, including four military-grade weapons.

#ParisAttacks @BCazeneuve : 168 perquisitions ont été conduites cette nuit, 104 personnes sont assignées à résidence

#ParisAttacks @BCazeneuve : Cette nuit : 23 interpellations, 31 armes saisies dont 4 armes de guerre

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Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud linked to Paris terror attacks

Brein achter aanslagen Parijs zat ook achter verijdelde aanslagen Verviers https://t.co/JKn79rOffJ #destandaard

A French official with knowledge of the investigation has identified Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud as being involved in the planning of Friday's attacks in Paris, according to AP.

The official requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly, AP said.

Abaaoud had also been mentioned in Belgian newspapers including de Standaard in connection with the attacks Monday, citing Belgian security sources.

He had previously been connected with the foiled attacks on a Paris-bound Thalys train in Verviers in August, as well as a foiled attack on a church.

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Paris prosecutors identify two more suspects

Paris prosecutor identifies two suicide bombers in Paris attacks Samy Amimour at the Bataclan Ahmad Al Mohammad at the Stade de France

The Paris prosecutor's office on Monday morning identified two more suicide bombers involved in the terror attacks on Paris on Friday evening.

They are Samy Amimour, who was one of the bombers at the Bataclan theater, and Ahmad al-Mohammed, who attacked the Stade de France.

Amimour is a 28-year-old born Oct. 15, 1987, who lived in Paris but was originally from Drancy. He had been known to security services since 2012, when he was indicted for associating with terror groups. He was placed under judicial supervision in 2013, Le Monde reported. Three of his family members have been arrested.

Mohammed is a 25-year-old born in Idlib who was found with a Syrian passport on his person. The prosecutor's office said it could not verify whether or not the passport was authentic, but that his fingerprints matched those of someone who passed through Greece in October.

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French PM Valls: Over 150 overnight raids

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Monday that more than 150 antiterror raids had taken place throughout the country overnight, following Friday's attacks on Paris, AP reported.

Speaking on France's RTL radio station, Valls warned that further attacks could take place "in the coming days, in the coming weeks," and reaffirmed President Francois Hollande's assertion that France "is at war" with terrorism.

"We are making use of the legal framework of the state of emergency to question people who are part of the radical jihadist movement ... and all those who advocate hate of the republic," he said, according to Reuters.

He also said French security services had prevented several terrorist attacks over the summer, and that police knew other attacks were being prepared in both France and the rest of Europe.

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Friends remember California student who was killed in the Paris attacks

Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old student at Cal State Long Beach and the only known American killed during the Paris attacks, was remembered on Sunday at a memorial attended by hundreds.

"She was the one that was here all the time," Britt Griffith, a part-time lecturer at Cal State Long Beach, told BuzzFeed News. "Everyone knew her."

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Obama orders flags to fly at half-mast to honor Paris attack victims

President Obama has signed a proclamation ordering flags across the United States to fly at half-mast in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks until sunset on Thursday.

Here's the full text of his proclamation:

The American people stand with the people of France. Friday's terror attacks were not just an attack on Paris; they were an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share, including the bonds of liberté, égalité, and fraternité. These values will endure far beyond any terrorists or their hateful vision. The United States and our allies do not give in to fear, nor will we be divided, nor will anyone change our way of life. We will do whatever it takes, working with nations and peoples around the world, to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, and to go after terrorists who threaten our people.

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on November 13, 2015, in Paris, France, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, November 19, 2015. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.

BARACK OBAMA

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Memorial service at Notre-Dame honors victims of Paris attacks

Notre-Dame, the historic cathedral in Paris, held a special service Sunday evening to honor the victims of Friday's attacks.

Notre-Dame, along with other iconic sites in the city, had been closed since the attacks on Friday, but opened for the special service on Sunday.

A special Mass by Paris Cardinal Andre Vingt-Troi was held at 6:30 p.m. local time for the families of victims and survivors, the Associated Press reported.

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Report: Iraqis warned West of imminent attack

Senior Iraqi intelligence officers reportedly sent Western officials a warning about an imminent ISIS-led attack just one day before Paris was struck, according to the Associated Press.

The dispatch warned that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi directed his followers "to implement an international attack that includes all coalition countries [fighting ISIS], in addition to Iran and the Russian Federation, through bombings or assassinations or hostage taking in the coming days."

A French official told the AP that French intelligence receives these kind of reports "all the time" and "every day."

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Paris to reopen museums on Monday

Les établissements culturels @iledefrance rouvriront lundi à 13h, après la minute de silence https://t.co/iR3o3dRbDn

Museums and other cultural establishments will reopen in Paris on Monday afternoon, officials announced, after a minute of silence is observed.

"In the tragic moments France is facing, culture is now more than ever a symbolic place of self-discovery and the discovery of others, of meeting, and of exchange," Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin said.

Museums, sporting venues, libraries, and other public buildings were shut down on Saturday as officials urged Parisians to remain home in the wake of the attacks.

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Bill Clinton: French Were With Us On 9/11, We Need To Be With Them Now

Following a campaign appearance with his wife in Iowa on Sunday, former President Bill Clinton said the United States should assist with France's efforts in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks.

"They were with us on 9/11, and we need to be with them here," Clinton told reporters. "We need to work with them, to cooperate with them, to get to the bottom of it."

"I was very moved by the general American and other responses," Clinton said, mentioning the Army football team bringing the French flag onto the field on Saturday.

Clinton was in Iowa following the second Democratic debate in Des Moines on Saturday night.

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Paris Attacks Stoke Fears Of Refugees, And That’s What ISIS Wants

"States have understandably been scared to tackle this out of fear that it will fuel right-wing populists and Islamophobia," one EU security official told BuzzFeed News amid reports that one of the Paris attackers entered Europe disguised as a refugee.

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France launches airstrikes against Syrian city of Raqqa

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The French Defense Ministry has announced that 10 fighter jets dropped 20 bombs on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, after the deadly attacks by ISIS terrorists in Paris.

The strikes destroyed an ISIS command center and training camp, the French air force said on Facebook, where footage of the jets was released.

"Tonight between 7 p.m. and 8:25 p.m. French time, a dozen aircraft of the French Air Force struck and destroyed, during a raid, a command center and a training camp of Daech situated in Raqqa, Syria," officials said, using an alternative name for ISIS.

French jets have also hit a recruitment center and munitions depot, Reuters reported.

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Interior minister: France to dissolve mosques where hatred is preached

France has taken steps to begin shutting down mosques where hatred is preached, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Sunday.

In an interview with the France 2 television station, Cazeneuve said it was necessary to take such measures because terrorists were trying to impose fear on the French people.

Steps have been taken to allow for the "the dissolution of mosques in which people call for or proclaim hatred," he said.

"I didn't wait for the state of emergency to go after hate preachers but the state of emergency allows us to do it faster," he said.

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Paris hospitals treat hundreds of injured

In a statement, the Paris public hospital system said 42 people remained in intensive care, while 35 others had been transferred out to regular care.

Eighty people were initially admitted to some 10 hospitals on Friday in a critical condition.

Hospitals have treated 415 people since the attacks, with 218 patients having been discharged.

CORRECTION

This post has been amended to remove a reference to the death toll increasing. It remains at 129. Earlier, a statement was released from the hospital about three additional deaths, but those deaths had already been included by officials in the count on Saturday evening.

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Report: Hollande to ask for three-month extension of state of emergency

President François Hollande will ask the French parliament to formally extend the state of emergency in his country to cover a three-month period, Agence France-Press reported Sunday.

Any extension of a state of emergency beyond 12 days requires parliamentary approval under French law.

"[Hollande] told us he wanted the state of emergency to last three months," a parliamentary source told AFP.

The move would cover the upcoming U.N. climate conference in the French capital, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30.

Hollande is scheduled to formally address lawmakers on Monday.

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"False alarm" prompted scare at Place de la République

Mouvement de panique rue des Rosiers et place de La République : fausse alerte confirmée par la police. Aucun tir n'a eu lieu.

Police are now saying a "false alarm" prompted the panic at the Place de la République, as well as a potential scare on the Rue de Rosiers, a popular Jewish street in the Marais district.

The AP reported that firecrackers let off at the scene were to blame.

BREAKING: French police say crowd at Republique Plaza apparently panicked after hearing firecrackers.

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Panic at Place de la République captured on live television

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A crew with Britain's Channel 4 broadcasting from the Place de la République captured the moment the crowd fled the square.

In additional video at the square, someone in the crowd can be heard yelling before people begin fleeing the scene.

Some can be seen trampling through flowers and candles as they flee.

The terrifying moment that a false alarm panicked crowds at the Place de la Republique in central #Paris (Reuters)

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People flee Paris square amid confusion

Place de la Republique cleared after another potential attack here. People running and screaming, really scary

Thousands fled Place de le République in central Paris on Sunday evening as authorities cleared the square.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the evacuation, but BuzzFeed News reporters nearby said panicked people were running from the scene.

Total panic on Place de la Republique #ParisAttacks

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Attacks spark political division across Europe over plan to take in refugees

Within Germany, leaders have long been divided over Angela Merkel's policy on refugees, with top officials in states like Bavaria and Saxony repeatedly urging the federal government to institute stricter controls, both at external border and even internally, to ensure that potential terrorists aren't getting through.

"Paris changes everything," Markus Soeder, finance minister for Germany's southern state of Bavaria, told a local newspaper Sunday, according to Reuters. "The days of uncontrolled immigration and illegal entry can't continue just like that."

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French authorities release image of suspect wanted in connection with Paris attacks

[AppelàTémoin] La #PJ recherche 1 individu susceptible d'être impliqué ds les attentats du 13/11/2015 #ParisAttacks

French police on Sunday released an image of a Belgian man wanted in connection with Friday's deadly terror attacks in Paris.

Salah Abdeslam, 26, was said to be "implicated" in the attacks.

He is described as being a "dangerous individual" and people are warned not to approach him.

There had been reports that authorities were searching for a man after one of the cars suspected of being used in the attacks was found in the Paris suburbs with weapons inside.

French officials told the Associated Press that authorities were searching for a man suspected of renting a car used by the terrorists who attacked the Bataclan.

Agence France-Presse reported the officials were searching for the whereabouts of one of three brothers said to be involved in the attacks. One of the man's brothers reportedly died in the attacks, while another was said to be in custody in Belgium.

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Minute of silence across Europe for Paris victims

Europe will fall silent on Monday as it remembers the victims of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.

Downing Street confirmed to the BBC that the U.K. will officially observe a minute's silence at 11 a.m. GMT (12 p.m. in Paris), after leaders of the European Union invited each of its nations to take part in the collective silence.

"The European Union is deeply shocked and in mourning after the terrorist attacks in Paris," EU leaders said in a joint statement. "It is an attack against us all. We will face this threat together with all necessary means and ruthless determination."

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More and more victims have been identified. You can read their stories here.

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Marilyn Manson cancels Paris show

Marilyn Manson's show scheduled for Nov 16 @ Le Zenith in Paris has been canceled. Marilyn Manson will resume the tour in Brussels on Nov 18

Marilyn Manson joins the list of bands — which includes U2, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Simple Plan — who have cancelled shows in Paris following the attacks.

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Syrian rebels condemn Paris attacks

49 Islamist and FSA Syria rebel groups fighting both Bashar and ISIS strongly condemn Paris terror attack

Forty-nine Free Syrian Army and Islamist groups fighting both the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and ISIS, the group suspected of planning the Paris attacks, have condemned the bloodshed in the French capital.

"We have been deeply shocked and saddened at the terrible news of the terror attacks against innocent civilians in Paris," the rebels said in an English language statement.

"The Syrian revolutionary factions condemn in the strongest possible terms these inhumane and criminal attacks. We consider these terrorist acts to be no different than the terrorism the Syrian people have had to endure on a daily basis for the past five years."

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Reports: Manhunt underway after rifles found in possible getaway car

Authorities are searching for a possible eighth assailant after a number of Kalashnikov rifles were found in an abandoned car that officials believe was used by the attackers, according to reports.

The black Seat Leon car was found in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil on Sunday, the BBC reported, suggesting some of those behind the attacks may still be on the run.

The New York Times reported the car is the same vehicle used by the shooters who targeted restaurants and bars.

An unnamed French official told the Times authorities were searching for "someone from the Paris region" who may have been involved in the attacks.

Officials initially said eight people were behind the attacks, but on Saturday said only seven had been killed.

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Reports: Seven arrests made in Belgium

Some seven people have been detained in Belgium in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, according to reports.

An unnamed Belgian official told the Associated Press that two of the seven attackers were French men who had been living in Brussels.

The New York Times reported one of the seven men had been linked to a rented Volkswagen Polo used by the terrorists who stormed the Bataclan concert hall.

Sources told Le Monde the investigation is directed towards three French brothers who lived in Belgium. Two of their names appeared on rental slips used to hire the Volkswagen and a Seat Leon used by the Bataclan attackers, the newspaper reported.

The third brother was reportedly among the seven detained in Belgium since the attacks.

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EU justice and interior ministers to meet

[#Communiqué] Réunion extraordinaire du Conseil JAI le 20 novembre 2015 à Bruxelles à la demande de @BCazeneuve

European Union ministers will meet on Friday to discuss ways to respond to the Paris attacks.

The interior and justice ministers will meet in Brussels at the request of French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

"This meeting should help address, as concretely and serviceable as possible, several topics identified as priorities since the January attacks [on the Charlie Hebdo offices], but it is necessary to speed up the negotiating timetable and implementation," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Cazeneuve also thanked his European counterparts for their messages of support "in the ordeal France is going through and which [they] are all facing together."

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More than 100 victims formally identified

View this video on YouTube

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Prime Minister Manuel Valls told reporters on Sunday that 103 bodies have so far been identified.

"France is touched, profoundly touched," he said. "But here there are families that are destroyed, destroyed by sadness, by the loss of a loved one."

Valls said some families are still waiting anxiously for formal identification.

He said some 20 to 30 victims of the attacks must still be properly identified.

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Egyptian passport found at scene belonged to victim not attacker

An Egyptian passport found at the scene of the bombings belonged to an Egyptian victim and not an attacker, the BBC reports.

The passport was found at the scene of the Stade de France explosions and linked to the attackers but Egypt's ambassador to France has now said it belonged to a victim.

Ihab Badawi said that the passport belongs to Waleed Abdel-Razzak, a football fan who was critically injured in the attack.

"No charges have been directed at Abdel-Razzak at all," Badawi told Egypt's CBC news channel.

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Top EU official says Europe's refugee policy doesn't need to be overhauled in wake of attacks

A top EU official has said Europe's refugee policy does not need to be overhauled in the wake of the Paris attacks and is urging world leaders not to start treating asylum-seekers as terrorists.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Sunday that "those who organized these attacks, and those who carried them out, are exactly those who the refugees are fleeing," AP reported.

Juncker told reporters at the G20 summit in Turkey that "there is no need to revise the European Union's entire refugee policy."

Poland's incoming government declared Saturday it would not accept refugees without security guarantees.

Juncker urged them "to be serious about this, and not to give in (to) these basic reactions."

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Kalashnikov rifles found in abandoned car linked to attacks

Several Kalashnikov rifles were found in the abandoned car believed to have been used by Paris attacks, AFP is reporting.

Earlier this morning a French judicial official said a Seat car with suspected links to Friday's deadly Paris attacks has been found by police in Montreuil, a suburb nearly four miles east of the French capital.

Three rifles were found in the car, AFP said, quoting judicial sources in Paris.

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Reports: Syrian passport found with bomber possibly fake

Reports are beginning to emerge that the Syrian passport found on one of the Paris attackers may be a fake.

Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow has cited anonymous police sources as suggesting the passports were fakes possibly made in Turkey.

CBS News is also reporting U.S. intelligence sources have said the passport was a fake.

The official told CBS the passport did not contain the correct numbers for a legitimate Syrian passport and the picture did not match the name.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Syrian passport found at the scene of the attacks had been used to enter the EU through the Greek Island of Leros on Oct. 3, AP reported.

However, a government official in Athens said, "We found the serial number and we found the finger prints and palm prints that are also taken [from every refugee]," according to The Guardian.

"It is now up to the French authorities to match those fingerprints with the remains of the body of the attacker, and announce the identity," the official said.

"Either this person passed through Greece posing as a refugee, or along the way he bought or stole the passport. At this stage either scenario is possible."

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Reports: Syrian passport found with bomber possibly fake

Reports are beginning to emerge that the Syrian passport found on one of the Paris attackers may be a fake.

Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow has cited anonymous police sources as suggesting the passports were fakes possibly made in Turkey.

CBS News is also reporting U.S. intelligence sources have said the passport was a fake.

The official told CBS the passport did not contain the correct numbers for a legitimate Syrian passport and the picture did not match the name.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Syrian passport found at the scene of the attacks had been used to enter the EU through the Greek Island of Leros on Oct. 3, AP reported.

However, a government official in Athens said, "We found the serial number and we found the finger prints and palm prints that are also taken [from every refugee]," according to The Guardian.

"It is now up to the French authorities to match those fingerprints with the remains of the body of the attacker, and announce the identity," the official said.

"Either this person passed through Greece posing as a refugee, or along the way he bought or stole the passport. At this stage either scenario is possible."

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President Obama addresses press at G20 summit in Turkey

President Barack Obama has just addressed the G20 Summit of world leaders in Turkey on the Paris attacks.

"The skies have been darkened by the horrific attacks that took place in Paris just a day and a half ago," he said. "As was true with the terrible attacks that took place in Ankara, the killing of innocent people based on a twisted ideology is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey, but it's an attack on the civilized world."

He said the U.S. stood in "solidarity with" France and were committed to "hunting down the perpetrators of this crime and bringing them to justice."

He called Turkey a strong partner of the U.S. and other members of the coalition against Islamic State.

He said leaders had agreed to "redouble our efforts" with other members of the coalition to reach a political resolution to the Syrian civil war.

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The girlfriend of a British man killed in Paris has paid a moving tribute to him

You are and always will be the love of my life, Nick Alexander #fuckterrorism #ParisAttacks #Bataclan

This moving tribute to Nick Alexander, a 36-year-old British man murdered in the Paris attacks, was posted to Twitter by his girlfriend Polina Buckley.

Hours earlier she had tweeted begging for help in locating him. Alexander, 36, from Colchester in Essex, was working as a merchandise manager for the Eagles of Death Metal, whose concert was stormed by the terrorists on Friday night.

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Car with links to attack located in France

A French judicial official says a Seat car with suspected links to Friday's deadly Paris attacks has been found by police in Montreuil, a suburb six kilometers (nearly four miles) east of the French capital, AP is reporting.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not publicly authorized to speak, could not immediately confirm if this was the same black Seat linked to the gun attacks on the Le Carillon bar and the Le Petit Cambodge restaurant in Rue Alibert in the city's 10th district.

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French man charged over incident at English airport yesterday

Gatwick Airport — London's second biggest airport — was evacuated on Saturday after the discovery of "what appeared to be a firearm," Sussex police said.

A French man, 41, has now been charged with possession of an air rifle and a knife.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene, while thousands of people were left waiting outside in the rain.

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This video — which some people may consider disturbing — appears to show the moment gunmen opened fire at the Bataclan theater:

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

A video posted online Saturday by Grasswire purports to show the moment gunmen opened fire during a set by the Eagles of Death Metal at the Bataclan theater.

The video appears to have been shot by someone in the audience. It shows the band performing during an instrumental segment of a song.

About 10 seconds in, a series of loud pops can be heard, after which the band seems to stop playing mid-song. The attackers are not visible in the video, but one band member can be seen running out of frame while another removes his guitar.

Though Grasswire did not say how it acquired the video, the people, clothing, and instruments that are visible appear to match other Instagram photos from the show.

The video's length and square aspect ratio suggest it may have originally come from social media.

All the members of the Eagles of Death Metal survived the attack. However, the band's merchandise manager, Nick Alexander, was killed.

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Here's what the Democratic presidential candidates said about the Paris attacks

The second Democratic debate got off to a somber start Saturday as the three remaining candidates took turns denouncing the terrorist attack in Paris and vowing to bring the full power of the United States to bear in the war against ISIS.

For more than how the candidates came down on the attack, go here.

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One of the suicide bombers who took part in the coordinated attack in Paris on Friday was identified by a French elected official as Ismael Omar Mostefai

The deputy mayor of Chartres, France — Jean-Pierre Gorges — announced the identity in a Facebook post, adding that Mostefai had lived in the town since 2012.

Mostefai likely stayed in Syria for several months in the winter of 2013–14, where he theoretically received training before returning to Europe, Le Monde reported.

Not much was immediately known about Mostefai, but it was the first identity of an attacker to be revealed, reportedly by way of a severed finger. Gorges referred to Mostefai as a suicide bomber.

The AFP, however, identified Mostefai as the French national born in 1985, who at an earlier press briefing was described by Paris prosecutor Francois Molins as a petty criminal who was on law enforcement's radar, but not considered a major threat.

Molins also said that authorities had used fingerprints to identify the man. With eight convictions on his record between 2008 and 2010 for "acts against the common good," Molins said the man was known to police, but never imprisoned.

In 2010, Molins said police set up a special file on the man, "but he was never involved in anything to do with terrorism."

Mostefai's brother told AFP that he knew of the petty crimes, but never would have imagined that he could be implicated in acts of terror.

"It's a crazy thing, it's madness," the 34-year-old brother, who was not named, told AFP.

For more on what we know about the attackers, go here.

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GRAPHIC FOOTAGE: Video emerges of shootout between police and attackers at Bataclan theater

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Relatives of one attacker reportedly in custody

Police detained one or more family members of one of the attackers Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.

Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office, did not specify to the AP who was arrested or detained, but said searches were underway.

The AP reported the attacker was a Frenchman originally from the suburbs of Paris.

Agence France-Presse reported police took the attacker's brother and father into custody, citing unnamed sources:

#UPDATE Father, brother of one of Paris suicide attackers placed in custody: sources https://t.co/0kFas5kyeY

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Officials detail timeline of terror

On Saturday, Paris Prosecutor François Molins laid out the three-hour timeline of the massacres.

The first strike happened at 21:20 local time at Gate D of the Stadium of France — in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis — during a friendly match between the French and German national teams. A suicide bomber detonated a belt of explosives laced with bolts "to worsen the blast," Molins said.

The attacker died, and another person standing nearby was killed in the explosion.

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We Went To The Streets Of Paris To See How Parisians Were Coping After The #ParisAttacks https://t.co/DKWDzeCpyP

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Hotel Pullman incident "a false alarm"

French officials now say "a false alarm" prompted the heavy police response at the Hotel Pullman, the BBC reported.

An Interior Ministry spokesperson told the broadcaster a tourist had spotted something suspicious, but police searched the hotel and found nothing.

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Heavily armed police have been spotted at the Pullman hotel in Paris

Pic from my window at #pullman hotel. Saw a group of 5 police enter, many more hunkering outside. #ParisAttacks

A producer with Fox News staying at the hotel tweeted that police were going door to door on some floors.

Police moving outside #Pullman. Journos w/ cameras filming. Police seem unconcerned w/ camera folks. #ParisAttacks

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Bataclan survivor recounts her story to BuzzFeed France

Lynda, a 35-year-old from the northern French city of Le Havre on vacation in Paris, was at the Bataclan when it was attacked on Friday night.

More than 82 people were killed during the attack on the club, part of a multi-pronged assault on the French capital that has left at least 129 people dead and more than 350 people injured.

She told BuzzFeed France what she saw:

"There was something just before the gunshots: I heard two noises that sounded like some kind of crack, or a bang… I thought it came from high up in the balcony… I raised my eyes, saw nothing out of the ordinary, so I put my eyes back on the stage. Then I heard something like firecrackers, but I didn't think it was gunshots. I saw a man with a weapon which, from where I was, looked like it was plastic made… I guess I was still in denial. Then the smell of powder started to come in."

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No specific or credible threat to the U.S., White House says

Just in from the White House: Readout of the President's National Security Council Meeting on the Paris Attacks:

President Obama, before departing for the G20 Summit, convened his National Security Council to discuss yesterday's horrific terrorist attacks in Paris.

The President's team briefed him on the latest intelligence surrounding the attacks, and — while noting that there was no specific or credible threat to the United States —reviewed our homeland security posture to ensure we are doing everything necessary to protect the American people.

The President received a briefing on the active cooperation with our French counterparts on intelligence sharing and military action against ISIL, and reaffirmed that his team will remain in close contact with their French counterparts to be ready to provide any necessary assistance to French authorities as part of the investigation.

The team reviewed the intelligence picture, noting that we had no information to contradict the initial French assessment of ISIL's responsibility.

The President was also briefed on our Embassy security posture in Paris and across Europe, and directed his team to take all appropriate measures to ensure the security of Embassy personnel.

The President directed his team to keep him regularly apprised of the investigation and any relevant intelligence.

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Irish band @U2 pays homage near the Bataclan concert hall on November 14, 2015 in Paris. Photos @franck_fife #AFP

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Paris bookstore Shakespeare & Co. shelters customers during attacks

Shakespeare & Co., a famed independent bookstore in the 5th arrondissement, sheltered around 20 of its customers Friday night during the Paris attacks.

Harriet Alida Lye, a writer-in-residence at the bookstore, told the Guardian that about 20 customers sheltered inside the store during the city-wide carnage.

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At least 129 dead in Paris attacks, as officials outline timeline of terror

At least 129 people have been killed in the attacks, Paris Prosecutor François Molins said Saturday.

The number of injured stands at 352, with at least 99 in a critical condition.

Seven terrorists are among the dead, Molins said. The assailants mentioned Syria and Iraq as they carried out their attacks, he said.

One of the attackers at the Bataclan was formally identified through his fingerprints as a French-born man, Molins said. The prosecutor did not name the attacker but said he was born in 1985 and known to French authorities, having been sentenced eight times between 2008 and 2010 for "common law violations." The man was considered a radicalized person by authorities, Molins said.

The French prosecutor also confirmed reports that a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the suicide bombers at the Stade de France. The passport belonged to a Syrian man who was not known to the French authorities.

A Greek official said earlier that the passport was used by a person passing through Greece last month.

Three teams of attackers carried out the attacks, Molins said, all of who were heavily armed and wearing vests packed with explosives.

The attacks began with an explosion outside the gates of the Stade de France on the city's outskirts at 9:25 p.m. local time. The explosion killed two people, one of whom was suspected of being the suicide bomber.

Shortly after, Le Petit Cambodge restaurant and Le Carillon bar in central Paris came under attack, hit by gunfire from a passing black car. Some 15 people were killed in the two establishments.

A second explosion then occurred at the Stade de France, with authorities discovering the body of a suicide bomber.

An additional shooting by on the Rue de la Fontaine au Roi in central Paris also led to the death of five people, Molins said.

Then, shooting occurred at La Belle Equipe bar carried out by people who again arrived in a black car. An attacker then detonated explosives at a restaurant on the Boulevard Voltaire, seriously injuring one person.

A third suicide bomber then killed himself near the Stade de France.

At 10:40 p.m. local time, attackers entered the Bataclan concert hall and began opening fire. The greatest number of victims were in front of the stage, Molins said. Some 89 people were killed in the venue, with many more injured.

View this video on YouTube

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GRAPHIC VIDEO: Cell phone footage shows people escaping from the Bataclan theater

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Video shot by Le Monde reporter Daniel Psenny shows people escaping the Bataclan through a back door.

People can be heard screaming, and some can be seen dragging others through the streets.

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U.S. intelligence official: "We have seen nothing that contradicts President Hollande's assessment of the situation"

A U.S. intelligence official told BuzzFeed News that while agencies continued to assess the situation in Paris, they could provide public guidance "on the many developing details."

"At this early stage, we have seen nothing that contradicts President Hollande's assessment of the situation," the official added.

"This is a French counterterrorism investigation and we are working with French officials to provide any assistance they may need. When they are able to share information and we in turn are able to share public details, we will do so," the official said.

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Report: Suicide bomber was turned away by security at Paris stadium

At least one of the attackers behind the Paris attacks was turned away by security at the Stade de France stadium on Friday night after he was found to be wearing a vest packed with explosives, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A security guard and police officer who spoke to the newspaper said the man was frisked at a security checkpoint about 15 minutes into a soccer match between Germany and France at the stadium. He reportedly detonated his vest while backing away from the security checkpoint.

Just minutes later another person blew themselves up outside the stadium, the newspaper reported, while a third attacker detonated a bomb outside a McDonald's.

One civilian died in the attacks at the stadium.

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Syrian refugees in France brace for backlash in light of attacks

BuzzFeed News contributor Munzer al-Awad and reporter Mike Giglio spoke to Syrian refugees about their reactions to the ISIS-led attacks in Paris.

Many of them recognize the terror all too well. One businessman who settled in France two years ago from his hometown of Homs told BuzzFeed News, "Syrians left Syria in dangerous ways to live in peace, but the killers followed them to Europe."

Awad and Giglio note that France has accepted 5,000 Syrian refugees since 2012, but has pledged to accommodate 24,000 more over the next two years.

Read the full report here.

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Belgian justice minister says "number of" arrests made in Brussels connected to Paris attacks

Shortly after police raided the neighborhood of Molenbeek in Brussels, a spokeswoman for Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens told Belgian press that numerous arrests had been made.

Just after Friday night's attacks, witnesses saw two cars with Belgian license plates flee two different sites of attack. French and Belgian authorities found two cars linked to the attacks were registered in Belgium, De Standaard reported.

Three of the attackers who killed more than 120 people Friday night are thought to have come from Molenbeek, Le Monde reported.

Un homme arrêté à #Molenbeek - https://t.co/moSzBbd43o @RTBFInfo #Paris Photo de @SebastienGeoris

"A man arrested in Molenbeek."

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Greek officials say Syrian passport reportedly found near attacker's body had been used to enter Greece

Announcement of #Greece's AltMinister Citizens Protection on the #ParisAttacks. (In Greek: https://t.co/sEcwm95UBS)

Greek Minister for Citizen Protections Nikos Toskas announced Saturday that the the Syrian passport reportedly found near a terrorist's body after the Paris attacks had been processed by Greek officials last month.

Anonymous French police officials told the AP that one of the passports recovered near the body of one of the gunmen in the wake of the attacks was of Syrian nationality.

According to Greek website Antenna, Toskas said that a person carrying the passport had "passed by Leros on 3/10/2015, where he was identified according to EU rules." The rules had been established at an earlier meeting addressing the nation's handling of refugees.

The minister added that officials had not checked if the passport had been processed by other countries it may have passed through.

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Airbnb asks Paris users to open their homes to tourists

Airbnb has asked its hosts in Paris to open their accommodation to visitors at little or no cost, the company told BuzzFeed News.

"If you are able, we hope you will strongly consider helping those who are in need by making your listing available at little or no cost," reads an email the company sent its users. "Also, if you're an Airbnb host in Paris and your Airbnb guest is experiencing travel delays as they try to leave Paris, you can allow your guest to extend their stay for free."

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Paris attacks raise questions about what French authorities knew and why they failed

"We were expecting something. We knew it was coming," a Western diplomat told BuzzFeed News.

"The fact that we failed to stop it is definitely a failure," the diplomat continued. "But you can't imagine the number of attacks we have stopped. This was the nightmare scenario."

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Sussex police were called to Gatwick airport just outside of London Saturday morning, due to reports of, "suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item at the airport."

The north terminal was evacuated and a 41-year-old French man was arrested, police said.

Police later confirmed that the package was thought to contain a firearm. However, they said, "the viability of the weapon has yet to be established."

Due to an incident, the North Terminal has been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Extra staff are on site to help passengers.

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Police raid neighborhood in Brussels, reportedly make an arrest

Belgian news outlets reported a police raid and in a neighborhood in Brussels Saturday afternoon, leading to the reported arrest of someone suspected to be linked to the Paris attacks.

Three of the attackers who killed more than 120 people Friday night are believed to have come from Molenbeek, the Brussels neighborhood raided by police.

Two cars connected with the attacks were registered in Belgium, RTL reported. Belgium's federal prosecutor is expected to make a statement on raids later today.

#BREAKING Police raid Brussels neighbourhood in connection with Paris attacks: Belgian TV

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Artists create touching tributes to victims of the Paris attacks

The artwork, created by professional and amateurs, has spread across social media as people all over the world mourn the loss of the victims of the November 13 attacks.

See all 23 moving illustrations and drawings here.

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French man arrested at London’s Gatwick Airport. Police statement here: https://t.co/bzUr1Dlxs0

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Poland to no longer accept refugees, minister says

Poland's incoming minister of European affairs, Konrad Szymanski, suggested Poland would not honor its pledge to take in about 7,000 refugees under the plan that the EU has adopted to distribute recent arrivals from Syria and elsewhere.

Europe has been overwhelmed in recent months by hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. But Szymanski says the Paris attacks have given his government pause.

"The EU Council decisions on refugees and migrants' relocations we criticised are still the binding EU laws," Szymanski wrote in a post on the Polish site wPolityce.pl.

"In view of the tragic events in Paris, but we do not see the political possibilities of their implementation."

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Rock bands cancel tours in light of Paris attacks

After a concert for the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal became the target of gunfire and detonated explosives in Paris Friday night, several other bands have begun to cancel their tours.

All of the Eagles of Death Metal band members have been confirmed safe and unharmed.

Montreal-based rock band Simple Plan announced Friday night they would no longer travel to Paris to perform, according to Billboard.

"We were leaving for Paris tomorrow for a show on Monday; unfortunately, because of the tragic events that took place today, we have to cancel our plans," lead guitarist Jeff Stinco said. "The French borders are closed. We plan to go back to France as soon as possible: if the situation changes, we hope to show our support to our French fans by the end of this week."

U2 had been scheduled to perform Saturday night, but have canceled the concert. The concert was going to be aired on HBO, according to a statement sent to BuzzFeed News.

"We watched in disbelief and shock at the unfolding events in Paris and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families across the city tonight," the band said, adding that they "hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe."

The Foo Fighters also announced a cancelation to their tour, Entertainment Weekly reported. The band were slated to perform on Nov. 16 in Paris, and on Nov. 17 in Lyon.

In a statement, band members said, "In light of this senseless violence, the closing of borders, and international mourning, we can't continue right now. There is no other way to say it. This is crazy and it sucks. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was hurt or who lost a loved one."

Coldplay, who were scheduled to perform for a Tidal and KROQ live stream on Friday, have also postponed "out of respect for the terrible events in Paris," according to the band's website.

Band members added in their statement that another performance, set to take place in Los Angeles Saturday night, was still on, but would instead feature "a short set of old material so that your journey isn't wasted."

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Secretary of Defense Ash Carter says U.S. stands by "our oldest ally"

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook has released this readout of call between Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian from Saturday morning.

"Secretary Ash Carter spoke by phone this morning with French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian to convey his condolences for those killed during last night's terrorist attacks in Paris," Cook said.

"Secretary Carter told Minister Le Drian that the men and women of the Department of Defense stand with France entirely and are committed to helping France in any way that we can.

"The U.S. and France maintain a close relationship in countering terrorism around the world including direct action in North Africa, Syria, and Iraq. Secretary Carter reiterated the United States commitment to stand by our oldest ally in taking additional steps to respond to these barbaric attacks.

"The two agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days."

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Social media rumors about the attacks you shouldn't believe

In the wakes of the attack in Paris a lot of hoaxes and bad information are circulating online.

BuzzFeed News has debunked the worst of them, including claims the attacks were predicted online.

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Reports: One bomber was "young Frenchman" with links to Islamic extremism

Police sources say one bomber in the Paris attacks was a young Frenchman who had been flagged for links with Islamic extremism, AP is reporting.

He is believed to have been one of the concert hall attackers, according to AFP.

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Three hundred people hospitalized, 80 in "critical" condition

Some 300 people were hospitalized following the deadly attacks in Paris, 80 of whom are in "critical" condition, the city's hospital authority said.

Fifty-three people have already been discharged, the authority said in a statement, adding that the city's hospital system had the "necessary capacity" to handle the influx of patients from Friday's attacks, which left at least 128 dead, AFP reported.

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Interior minister describes attacks as "an act of war, planned from outside" France

In a televised address, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Saturday that the attacks in Paris were an "act of war" planned from outside the country.

Cazeneuve authorized local authorities to impose curfews and security perimeters if needed.

He said people arriving at border crossings are currently being subjected to reinforced security checks.

All public demonstrations are also banned in the country until Thursday, he said.

Cazeneuve also urged people not to spread rumors or stoke fears.

#ParisAttacks : Ne contribuez pas à la diffusion de mauvaises informations, de rumeurs #Bagnolet

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Belgians, Romanians, and a Swedish citizen among those killed in Paris

Two Belgians, two Romanians, and a Swedish citizen are reported to have been among the victims of last night's attacks.

Romania's Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens died and a third was injured in the attacks in Paris, AP reported.

A ministry statement said the Romanian embassy was in contact with the families of the two Romanians. No details are available about where they died or who they were.

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a Swedish citizen was killed in the Paris attacks.

"We have been in contact with the next of kin," Lofven said. "They should of course know that the whole of the Swedish people and my sympathy is with them, our hearts are with you."

And Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said at least two Belgian nationals were killed, The Guardian is reporting.

The U.S. embassy in Paris said Americans are among the injured and U.K. PM David Cameron said it was likely British citizens would be among the victims.

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Eiffel Tower closed indefinitely

A statement on the Eiffel Tower's website states it is currently closed.

"The Eiffel Tower is currently closed. We thank you for your understanding," it says.

No date has been given for when it will reopen.

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Cartoon sparks #ParisIsAboutLife movement on social media

This cartoon was done by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar on Friday night.

The #ParisIsAboutLife hashtag is now one of many large tags on Twitter where people are sharing their grief about Friday's attacks.

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People in Paris turn out en masse to donate blood after terror attacks

Parisians turned out in their droves on Saturday morning to donate blood to support victims of Friday's terrorist attacks in the city.

There was a huge surge in blood donations at Don Du Sang Paris's weekly blood drives at hospitals across the city, despite the French government's advice that people should stay indoors and the closure of several Metro lines.

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U.S. embassy in Paris says Americans are among the injured

State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner has said Americans are among the injured in Paris.

"The‎ United States Embassy in Paris is working round the clock to assist American citizens affected by this tragedy," Toner said.

"‎The U.S. 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.

"This is what we can say now; we'll keep you posted as we are able to be more forthcoming publicly."

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An artist's simple painting has become a symbol of the Paris attacks

Jean Jullien, a French graphic designer and cartoonist living in London, tweeted this picture late Friday night and it has since been retweeted over 39,000 times.

Jullien, who said he drew the picture himself, also shared it on Facebook, where it went viral too, getting shared over 20,000 times since Friday night.

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Empty trains arrive in Paris from London

On Eurostar to #Paris to cover #Parisattacks - train that was fully booked is pretty much empty

Usually packed Eurostar trains from London to Paris were virtually empty as they entered the French capital this morning.

While services were initially halted on Friday night, they were running as normal on Saturday morning.

Services that were said to be fully booked, however, were boarded by only a handful of travelers, including journalists traveling to Paris to report on the attacks.

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One man brought his piano down to the Bataclan theater and began playing John Lennon songs:

Transportant son piano à vélo, il vient jouer devant le #Bataclan #Lennon #Paix

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U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron says "British casualties" likely

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron has just made a statement to waiting media in London and said it is likely there will be "a number of British casualties" in the Paris attacks.

Cameron criticized the "brutal and callous murderers" and said the British and French people would stand together following the "worst terrorist attack in Europe for a decade."

Following a meeting of the government's emergency COBRA committee on Saturday morning, he said the risk of a terrorist attack in the UK remains high.

"The threat level is already at severe, which means an attack is highly likely and remains so," he said. "Our police and intelligence agencies work around the clock to keep us safe."

He also said the UK police and security services would review their procedures and increase security: "We will redouble our efforts to wipe out this poisonous extreme ideology."

Addressing the French people, he said: "Your values are our values, your pain is our pain, your fight is our fight."

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People from around the world have rallied around France to offer their support.

Among them are numerous celebrities, including Beyoncé, David Beckham, and Justin Bieber.

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Pope condemns Paris attacks as part of "Third World War"

Pope Francis has called the killings in Paris unjustifiable "inhuman" acts that are part of a larger "piecemeal Third World War."

"I am moved and I am saddened. I do not understand, these things hard to understand," Francis said during a telephone interview on Saturday with the Italian Bishops' Conference official television network.

"I am close to the people of France, to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them," Francis said.

The pope was asked if the attacks were part of a "piecemeal Third World War" and replied that "this is a piece of it."

"There is no religious or human justification for it," he added.

Earlier, in a telegram to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, the pontiff said the attacks had left him shaken and pained.

"Informed of the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris and at the Stade de France, killing a great number of people and wounding many others, His Holiness Pope Francis joins in prayer with the suffering of families affected by the drama and the pain of the French people," the telegram said.

"He invokes God, Father of mercy, asking that He welcome the victims into the peace of His light and bring comfort and hope to the injured and their families. He assures them, and all of the personnel participating in aid efforts, of his spiritual closeness.

"Once again, the Holy Father vigorously condemns violence, which cannot solve anything, and he asks God to inspire thoughts of peace and solidarity in all and to impart on families in this trial and on all of the French people, the abundance of His Blessings."

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Syrian passport found on the body of one of the suicide bombers, AP reports

A Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the suicide bombers who targeted France's national soccer stadium, AP is reporting.

The identities and nationalities of the attackers have not been officially released. However, two French police officials have said the Syrian passport was found.

The pair spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to be publicly named.

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Audio file claiming ISIS orchestrated attacks circulates on social media

An audio file purporting to be from ISIS affiliates has been circulating on social media this morning.

In the recording, an Arabic speaker says: "We want to tell France and all of the countries who are the same as France, they are the target and goal.

"The smell of death will never leave their noses because they died for the campaign. They hated our Prophet Muhammad. We are happy about what we did to the hostages.

"They hurt the land with their airplanes. These bombings are the first step. It's a warning for other countries who have the same mindset of France."

President François Hollande has said ISIS is responsible for the attacks.

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Israel stands "shoulder to shoulder" with France, says PM

Flags will fly at half mast at Israeli government offices and embassies abroad as a sign of solidarity with the French people, the BBC reports.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French President François Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against terrorism."

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I send condolences to the families of those murdered and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded."

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Nordic leaders condemn attacks

Nordic leaders have condemned the attacks in Paris.

Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said "terrorists must be defeated. They cannot break democracies that stand together," AP reports.

Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipila said "we must not give space for fear and intolerance."

After laying flowers outside the French embassy Saturday, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said "the perpetrators must be pursued and defeated. We will never give up."

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf said "it is important that we stand together against this unimaginable terrorism."

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Spanish PM says "we are at France's side"

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has called a meeting of Spain's National Security Council to "analyze the situation in the wake of the Paris attacks," AP reports.

"We aren't facing a war of religions, but a battle between civilization and barbarism. They may hurt us, but they can't beat us," Rajoy said.

The prime minister said Spain was on high alert and its forces had in the past few weeks stopped several terror attacks.

"We are at France's side not just in its pain but also in its fight against those who have caused it."

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ISIS claims responsibility for Paris attacks

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, releasing statements in both Arabic and French.

In a statement posted on social media, ISIS claimed France would "continue to be at the top of the target list."

"This attack is the first of the storm and a warning to those who wish to learn," the statement said.

An English language version was also later released:

ISIS releases English language translation of its statement on Paris terror attacks. Via @siteintelgroup

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Russian President Vladimir Putin offers condolences to France

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his "deepest condolences" in a telegram sent to French President François Hollande this morning.

The Kremlin press service has published the text of the note.

"I would like to express my deepest condolences to you personally and all the people of France in connection with the death of a large number of civilians as a result of an unprecedented series of terrorist attacks in Paris," Putin wrote.

"This tragedy became another evidence of barbaric nature of terrorism which poses a challenge to human civilization. It is obvious that effective fight against this evil requires a real combined effort of the entire international community.

"I would like to confirm that the Russian side is ready for the closest possible cooperation with French partners in the investigation of this crime committed in Paris. I expect that its paymasters and perpetrators will be punished."

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Terrorist attacks were act of war by ISIS, says French president

French President François Hollande has just spoken to the press in Paris.

"What happened yesterday in Paris and Saint-Denis is an act of war, and the face of war, the country must take the appropriate decisions," Hollande said.

Hollande said ISIS was responsible for the attacks and called for three days of national mourning, French newspaper Le Monde reported.

He said the attacks were "committed by a terrorist army, the Islamic State group, a jihadist army, against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: A free country that means something to the whole planet."

He said France "will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group."

France "will act by all means anywhere, inside or outside the country."

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Italy increases security measures

Italy is increasing its security measures in wake of the attack, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced.

Renzi said the attacks were against "all of humanity" and against "our way of life," the BBC reported.

He has convened a meeting of Italy's national security council to discuss the threat.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was expected to arrive in Rome today and fly onto Paris on Sunday, but cancelled his visit following the attacks.

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Prosecutors say 128 dead, 99 critically injured

French prosecutors have a provisional death toll of 128 with 99 people in critical condition, Reuters is reporting.

French newspaper Le Monde is reporting 99 people are in a state of "absolute urgency" and a further 155 people are in a state of "relative emergencies."

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel says attackers "hate freedom"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken to reporters in Berlin this morning saying the attackers in Paris "hate freedom," the BBC reports.

Merkel said the victims "wanted to live the life of free people in a city that celebrates freedom," and called the gunmen "murderers who hate precisely this life of freedom."

Germany has offered its counter-terrorism resources to France to aid the investigation.

The attack "was aimed not just at Paris, it targeted and it hits all of us," she added.

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Schools, universities, museums, and Disneyland Paris will be closed all day

Schools, universities, museums, and Disneyland Paris will all be closed today as the city comes to terms with the terror attack.

Many French schools are normally open on Saturdays, but the French government ordered them shuttered as part of emergency security measures, AP reported.

In a highly unusual move, Disneyland, one of Europe's leading tourist attractions, said in a statement that it decided not to open Saturday "in light of the recent tragic events in France and in support of our community and the victims of these horrendous attacks."

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Vigils Held Across The World After Paris Terror Attacks

People in countries from the U.S. to China have held makeshift memorials and candlelight vigils in solidarity with France after dozens were killed in terror attacks Friday night. Read more here.

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French President François Hollande convened a special security meeting Saturday morning.

Hollande called the meeting as his nation awoke to the aftermath of an incredible, coordinated terror attack the night before — the worst in the capital's modern history.

As police hunted for possible accomplices to the assailants, the attack no doubt raised concerns about France's ability to provide security for a number of upcoming high-profile events, including a global climate summit that will host dozens of heads of state in mere weeks.

France is also scheduled to host the European soccer championship in June, with the Stade de France a featured venue. It was one of the sites attacked Friday night.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned the attacks in a message to his French counterpart, the state-run news agency IRNA reported.

According to the Associated Press, Rouhani also canceled a trip to France, which has been involved in global talks over Iran's nuclear ambitions. No reason for the cancellation was given.

For more on reaction from world leaders, go here.

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U.S. presidential candidates reacted to the Paris terror attacks.

"We are all horrified by the cowardly attacks against innocent civilians in Paris," Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said in a statement after the attacks.

Other candidates also issued statements, including Republican Jeb Bush, who cited the need to better coordinate the war on ISIS and other militant groups.

"This is the war of our time, and we have to be serious in engaging and creating a strategy to confront it and take it out," he said.

For other statements, go here.

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"They killed everyone who was at the bar, and then headed towards the mosh pit."

For the nearly 1,500 people who flocked to see the Eagles of Death Metal at the Bataclan theater in Paris, Friday night began with excitement.

That excitement, however, soon turned to confusion and horror as witnessed described the mass shooting attack that unfolded, killing dozens in the process.

"It was like a gust of wind in a wheat field. Everyone dropped to the ground," one concert-goer told Libération.

Read more of their harrowing account here.

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In the hours after the Paris terror attacks, landmarks across the world were illuminated in red, white, and blue to honor the victims.

Fom New York and San Francisco in the U.S. to Canada and Brazil, see a range of landmark tributes here.

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Two prominent Republicans presidential candidates called for the U.S. to table plans to accept thousands of Syrian refugees, citing terror concerns after the Paris attacks.

Ted Cruz and Ben Carson both came out against the refugee plans.

Cruz has raised security concerns before about the prospect of accepting more refugees at this point from Syria.

Read more about their reaction here.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada has offered its full support to France following the "deeply worrying" terrorist attack in Paris.

"We have offered all of our help and support to the government of France, the people of France at this time," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa before boarding his flight to Turkey for the G20 summit.

Read more about reaction from other world leaders here.

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French police said they believe all of the attackers involved in the Paris attacks are dead, the Associated Press reported.

French special forces laid siege to the Bataclan Concert Hall, where attackers took the audience hostage. Four "terrorists" were killed in the raid, police said, with some dying after detonating explosives. The hostages were freed.

Over all, at least 120 people and five assailants were killed in the series of what appeared to be coordinated shootings and at least one explosion in Paris.

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Police prefect Michel Cadot told AP the attackers appeared to detonate suicide bombs as authorities closed in on the Bataclan concert venue. Here's raw footage of French forces raiding the hall.

View this video on YouTube

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The gunmen first opened fire on bars and restaurants with an automatic weapon, he said.

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