The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Paris under siege as many die in attacks
Bars and a theatre targeted by gunmen in co-ordinated series of raids
Paris was in lockdown last night after a series of apparently co-ordinated attacks left at least 40 people dead and 60 wounded. Dozens more were being held hostage at a city theatre.
Bar restaurants were the first to come under attack, with shots fired and bombs thrown. Early reports suggested the gunmen fired from passing cars at diners sitting outside at pavement tables.
The explosions could be heard at the Stade de France, where the national team was playing Germany in a friendly. French president Francois Hollande left the game to hold an emergency meeting.
There were fears casualties could rise dramatically, with up to 100 held hostage at the Bataclan theatre. It was not clear if any demands had been made.
Concerns for Scots are also high, with many Glasgow rugby fans already in the city for their match against Racing Metro today.
Between 35 and 40 people have been killed in violence around Paris last night and around 100 people have been taken hostage at a theatre in the French capital.
Officials said shots were fired in at least two restaurants and at least two explosions were heard near the Stade de France stadium, where the national side was playing Germany in a friendly football match.
French president Francois Hollande left the stadium, where he had been watching the game, to hold an emergency meeting with officials.
The hostages are being held at the Bataclan theatre, according to reports.
Eyewitness Ben Grant said he was in a bar with his wife when the gunshots were fired and he had seen six or seven bodies on the ground.
He told the BBC: “I was told people in cars had opened fire on the bar.
“There are lots of dead people. It’s pretty horrific to be honest.
“I was at the back of the bar. I couldn’t see anything.
“I heard gunshots. People dropped to the ground. We put a table over our heads to protect us.
“We were held up in the bar because there was a pile of bodies in front of us.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.”
US president Barack Obama told a press conference that the violence in Paris “was an attack on all of humanity”.
He said: “Those who think they can terrorise the people of France and the values they stand for are wrong.”
The attacks come almost a year after the Charlie Hebdo atrocity, which took place in January and saw 12 people killed after gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical magazine.
In June, France launched a terrorism investigation after police found a decapitated body in a gas factory in the south-eastern city of Lyon.
Two months later three Americans and one Briton were awarded medals for bravery after they overpowered a heavily armed gunman on a train in France.
Pictures on social media showed hundreds of football fans had spilled on to the pitch at the Stade de France after the game ended. It is believed police held them there until it was felt safe for them to leave.
Mr Cameron said his “thoughts and prayers” were with the French people as reports of the shootings came through.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the attacks were “heinous and immoral”.
Mr Corbyn said: “My thoughts are with the people of Paris tonight. We stand in solidarity with the French. “Such acts are heinous and immoral.” There was also concern last night for the safety of up to 350 Scottish rugby fans who are in the city for a match today.
The Glasgow fans had arrived in Paris earlier yesterday ahead of today’s European Champions Cup match between Racing 92 and Glasgow Warriors – with more due to arrive this morning.
The game is being staged in midafternoon at the Stade Yves du Manoir in the north east of the city.
A club spokesman said: “We are getting information in dribs and drabs, but at this stage there is no indication that the match could be in doubt and we are preparing as normal.
“The team hotel is out in the suburbs of Paris, so the terrible events have had no real effect on them.
“We are, of course, keeping our fingers crossed that all our supporters are safe and well. More than 500 of them were expected to make the journey.”
There are lots of dead people...It’s horrific