Paris attacks: France declares emergency; as many as 140 dead
[PARIS] Paris declared an emergency after a wave of deadly attacks on Friday, including one at a concert hall where gunmen seized hostages and about 100 people were killed, according to media reports.
There were also shootings at a restaurant, and bomb attacks near the national sports stadium. President Francois Hollande closed France's borders and imposed a state of alert as the cabinet held an extraordinary meeting. Police told people to stay indoors.
In some of the latest developments: Police stormed a Paris theatre, killing two gunmen, according to local media. Associated Press said more than 100 people were killed there.
Mr Hollande was headed to the scene.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US embassy in Paris is "making every effort to account for the welfare of American citizens in the city".
A convoy of French troops was deployed in central Paris.
The wave of attacks began earlier Friday when blasts rocked the Stade de France sports arena, where France was playing a football game against Germany. Mr Hollande was at the game and was evacuated to the Interior Ministry.
The hostage-taking occurred at the Bataclan theatre in the 11th district of Paris, where the US rock band Eagles of Death Metal was performing. There were also shootings outside a restaurant in the 10th district.
"Unprecedented terrorist attacks are underway. There are dozens dead," Mr Hollande said in Paris in a nationally televised address. "We must, in these difficult moments, show compassion and solidarity, but we also need to show unity and cool- headedness."
The French president canceled plans to attend a Group of 20 summit in Turkey starting tomorrow, and will convene a meeting of the defence cabinet at 9 am, his office said.
'TIER-ONE TARGET'
Mr Obama told reporters in Washington that Paris has witnessed "an outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians." He said the US stands ready to provide any needed assistance to its French ally. UK Prime Minister David Cameron also volunteered his support.
France has been on high alert for terror attacks ever since a series of killings at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in early January. The country is taking part in the US-led military campaign against Islamic State in Syria.
There's a strong chance the attacks are related to France's participation in the fight against extremists in Syria and north Africa, said Thomas M. Sanderson, director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. He said Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are the likeliest suspects.
"Long-standing grievances as well as contemporary activity by France makes them a tier-one target," Mr Sanderson said. "They're not the primary actor from the air, we are, but they are much more reachable than the US is."
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