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Home / World

Paris terror attacks: What you need to know

NZME.
15 Nov, 2015 10:46 PM4 mins to read

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The Eiffel Tower turned off its lights in respect for the victims of France terror attacks. Photo / Getty Images

The Eiffel Tower turned off its lights in respect for the victims of France terror attacks. Photo / Getty Images

How it happened?

The coordinated terror attacks struck Paris about 9.20pm local time on Friday. It is thought there were seven attacks by at least seven terrorists, all of whom were wearing suicide vests.

Fans had packed into the Stade de France for a friendly France-Germany football game when a man with a Syrian passport and an explosive vest blew himself up at Gate D of the stadium, killing himself and a bystander.

About 10 minutes later another attacker detonated his explosive vest outside Gate H of the stadium.

Four eateries in ordinary neighbourhoods - Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon on Rue Bichat as well as Casa Nostra pizzeria on Rue de la Fontaine au Roi and La Belle Equipe Bar in Rue de Charonne - were then attacked by a group of gunmen.

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The attackers gunned down diners and revellers at the venues, killing at least 39 and sending shocks of terror through the neighourhoods.

Less than a mile from the restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall became the target of a third group of attackers about 9.40pm.

A full house of 1500, mostly young Parisians, were watching US rock group Eagles of Death Metal play.

It was reported that three black-clad gunmen wielding machine guns and wearing suicide vests stormed the concert and fired shots at hundreds of concert goers. The death toll from the concert alone has reached 89.

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A third blast last took place near the Stade de France about 9.50pm.

Isis has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and seven of the attackers were killed by their suicide vests or were shot by police.

How many people died?

The death toll stands at 129 this morning. More than 350 people were wounded in the attacks, with 99 reportedly in critical condition.

Most of the fatalities - a current total of 89 - occurred at the Bataclan Stadium around 9.20pm local time.

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Who are the gunmen?

One of the gunman and two suicide bombers have been identified so far.

Omar Ismail Mostefai, 29, was identified by his finger which was found among the rubble at the Bataclan concert hall. He was born in Paris and had eight convictions for petty crimes but no prison time, police prosecutors say.

Ibrahim Abdeslam, who was born in 1984, has been identified as one of the suicide bombers who blew himself up outside the Comptoir Voltaire restaurant. He had rented a
car used in the attacks.

Another man, who has not been named, has been identified as one of the three Stade de France bombers and was born on January 22, 1995.

What were the weapons?

All of the terrorists were armed and wearing explosive vests.

French prosecutor Francois Molins said, via a translation on CNN, the explosives used were "TAPT".

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The chemicals used to make TAPT can be found in commercial products.

TATP has been used in bomb and suicide attacks in the past, including the London bombings in 2005.

Arrests made?

Police in France have reportedly arrested six people close to gunman Mostefai, including his father and brother.

The search for more accomplices continues, with authorities in Belgium stating they had arrested seven men so far.

What next?

French police are searching for suspect Salah Abdeslam who may have managed to escape.

Police have issued an appeal for information about the man, who was born in 1989, and has been labelled "dangerous", The Telegraph reported.

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Authorities in Greece are also investigating claims some of the men could have entered Europe through Greece, Reuters reported.

A Syrian passport was found near the remains of one suicide bomber at the Stade de France, and Greek authorities have confirmed he arrived through Greece.

The MailOnline reported Serbian media claimed the terrorist was 25-year-old Ahmed Almuhamed.

A second man suspected to have been among the attackers, is "very likely" to have entered Europe though Greece.

Quick facts:

• 129 people killed in seven attacks, including 89 at rock concert in Bataclan.
• 352 injured, with 99 in critical condition.
• Seven terrorists were wearing suicide vests.
• First two attacks at 9.20pm near Stade de France
• Third attack happened at the Right Bank area of central Paris, with 15 people gunned down in restaurants.
• Fourth and fifth shootings killed five people at a Rue de la Fontaine restaurant and 19 people in a bar on Rue de Charonne.
• The sixth and largest attack was at the Bataclan about 9.50pm with 89 dead.
• Another blast near Stade de France about 9.50pm.
• Police said six suicide bombers blew themselves up and a seventh attacker was shot by police.
• Authorities across Europe are searching for accomplices, with another 13 people arrested in France and Belgium so far

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