HOWTHE HORRIFIC EVENTS UNFOLDED

8pm GMT France’s match against Germany kicks off in the Stade de France on the northern edge of Paris.

8.17pm An explosion is heard close to the stadium but play continues, with both French and German fans cheering on their sides.

8.19pm France left-back Patrice Evra is visibly shocked as a second blast outside the stadium is heard inside the ground.

8.35pm After gunmen open fire on the public in bars and restaurants on Rue Alibert, near the centre of Paris, French President Francois Hollande leaves the Stade de France to attend a crisis meeting at Place Beauvau, home of the Ministry of the Interior.

8.45pm France and Germany coaches Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low are informed of the attacks at half-time, but they opt to not tell their players.

8.53pm A third explosion is heard around the stadium as a helicopter hovers over the area. It is established that three suicide bombers have died in attacks at fast-food outlets and near the stadium turnstiles.

9.56pm France win the match 2-0 and a large number of spectators are evacuated on to the pitch, while others leave the stadium. The squads watch the events unfold on monitors inside the players’ tunnel.

10.28pm The fans on the pitch are allowed to leave through the western exits.

8.52am (yesterday) Germany arrive in Hamburg after spending the night in the stadium, as did France, rather than return to their hotel which had been evacuated before the match because of a bomb threat.