On November 13th 2015, there was an Isis claimed terror attack on Paris, France, With 129 people dead and 352 wounded.

This was the worst event to hit France in a decade. There were seven coordinated terror attacks in a matter of 40 minutes, starting at 9:20pm with two explosions outside the Stade de France. Many onlookers watching the game mistook the bombs as fireworks. Next the attackers opened fire on the Petit Cambodge Cambodian restaurant in Rue Bichat, and the Le Carillon bar on the other side of the road – killing a total of 15 people.

The next attack was at Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, and after the same terrorists drove to the Casa Nostra Pizzeria, where many were dining when the bomb killed at least five. At 9:35pm at the La Belle Equipe bar in Rue de Charonne. There was a sixth attack killing 19. The seventh and final attack was the worst. At 9:40, at the Bataclan concert venue in Boulevard Voltaire. A popular band was playing where there were nearly 1500 spectators. 89 people were killed, when gunmen with AK-47s and suicide vests started taking hostages.  At nearly 10:00 the first responders arrived. At 10:15 a heavily armed swat team arrived and the siege was over around 12:30am.

There are 7 identified terrorists only one having survived and on the run. Salah Abdeslam is one of two brothers suspected in involvement. The other blew himself up at Comptoir Voltaire café. Salah was born in Belgium and is a French citizen. The suspected mastermind Abdelhamid Abdaoud was killed recently in a raid that collapsed an entire apartment floor. Abdaoud was close to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad, whom ordered the attack. There are 8 suspects in captivity whose names have not been released.

There has been a huge outpour of support for France.  Many famous monuments were lit up in France’s colors (blue, white, and red), including the One World Trade Center in New York, the Sydney Opera House, Londons Tower Bridge, Angel de la Independencia in Mexico City, and Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. Popular social media network Facebook, gave an option, similar to their marriage equality filter, to change your profile picture to have an overlay of the French flag .  Also a blue white and red filter over a peace sign with the Eiffel tower was also trending on social media with the hashtag #prayforparis.

The Herald sends our condolences to victims’ families in France.