Blast heard during Paris football match at Stade de France

The string of coordinated attacks in and around Paris late yesterday (Nov 13) left more than 120 people dead, in the worst such violence in France’s history.

“I don’t think we can say this proves anything, but again it supports the idea that it’s terrorism”, Chertoff said.

Rescuers evacuate people following an attack in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital.

A few explosions hit near the Stade de France outside Paris, home of the national sports teams.

She could not exclude the possibility that a few attackers might still be at large. Investigators are also looking for possible accomplices.

The Times says “the death toll could reach that of the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which killed 191 people”.

French President President Francois Hollande said the attackers would be fought “without mercy”.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, French president Francois Hollande said borders would be closed. The violence spread fear through the city and exceeded the horrors of the Charlie Hebdo attack just 10 months ago. At least 100 people died there, according to reports.

He said: “Those who think they can terrorise the people of France and the values they stand for are wrong”.

Mr. Hollande said that on his orders the government had “mobilised all the forces we can muster to neutralise the threats and secure all of the areas”.

Speaking minutes after news of the horrific incidents had broken last night, Hollande told the French nation: “We know where it comes from, who these criminals are, who these terrorists are”.

A few 40 more people were killed in five other attacks in the Paris region, the official said, including an apparent double suicide bombing outside the Stade de France national stadium, where Hollande and the German foreign minister were watching a friendly soccer worldwide.

Gregory Goupil of the Alliance Police Nationale said there were at least three dead in the attacks near the stadium. Sirens were immediately heard, and a helicopter was circling overhead.

A Lebanese security official said the first suicide attacker detonated his explosives’ vest outside a mosque, while the second blew himself up inside a nearby bakery.

Scene of one of the shootings, where rescue service are recovering bodies outside a central restaurant. He said he didn’t see any gunmen or victims, but hid behind a corner, then ran away.

Witnesses described sounds like fireworks, before they realized the gravity of the situation and tried to hide, or flee. Twenty people died, including the three attackers.

According to media reports, terror organisation Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed the responsibility.

The series of attacks not far from the Place de la Republique and Place de la Bastille struck at the heart of the capital at Friday night when cafes, bars and restaurants were doing peak business, BBC said.

Michael Dorio, brother of Eagles of Death Metal drummer Julian Dorio, said he spoke to the musician after the attack. They are using the hashtag “Paris on Fire” in Arabic to celebrate the attacks, the same hashtag ISIS used to celebrate the Charlie Hebdo terror attack. The country is taking part in the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State in Syria. French authorities said the gunmen eventually turned the attack into a hostage situation.

A memorial is placed outside of the Consulate General of France in San Francisco Calif., on Friday night.