Hostages taken at concert hall in Paris's 11th arrondissement: police

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: France 24

No text yet...breaking. Will update.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20151113-hostages-taken-concert-hall-pariss-11th-arrondissement-police

---

Bataclan is a few hundred meters away from the former Charlie Hebdo offices. BFM TV News is talking of a concerted attack--at several points in Paris simultaneously.

President Hollande was evacuated from the Stade de France where he was attending the France /Germany football match.

Hollande and Interior Minister Cazeneuve are now in the 11th Arrondissement at the site of one the shootings and the hostage-taking.

[dorkzilla]

1. Watching Sky News - they say 60 hostages at Bataclan nt

[upaloopa]

2. Two suicide bombers outside the stadium

Shooting still going on at concert

[geek tragedy]

3. Horrible. More victims of religiously-inspired terrorism nt

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Looks bad. Hostages being held and lots of dead already.

France DOES NOT need this.

[smirkymonkey]

12. Hasn't France had enough? They have had more of their fair share of

tragedy. Why them though?

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Because they are a very visible target, and in some ways Paris is the

center of Europe.

[hollowdweller]

26. Also large muslim population

I figure this pretty much dooms all the people fleeing the middle east, trying to get into Europe. Lets hope the people involved weren't any of the refugees.

I think it's getting to the point we may see serious efforts in Europe to send them back.

[immoderate]

32. I spent some student time in Paris. It seemed not just the center of Europe,

but the center of the world. I say that as a NYC native. When I sat at a cafe on the left bank in Paris, I mused, with my friends, that everything imaginable could pass by us. Maybe some of them mused it first. But it came up often.

--imm

[Surya Gayatri]

45. Yes, "center of the world" is an apt description. If you want to

provoke panic and mayhem, this is a good place to start.

[smirkymonkey]

40. This is so wrong. One of the most beautiful cities in the world and it

is becoming marred by terrorism. My heart aches for the Parisians. Their lovely city is under siege.

[Surya Gayatri]

46. That's how it feels, smirky. A beautiful and elegant place rendered ugly

by the specter of terrorism and resulting police crack down. Already, since Charlie Hebdo, there were police or troops on practically every street corner.

[MrsMatt]

68. Who does?

It's a horrible situation no matter where it could occur.

[Surya Gayatri]

69. We were only just coming out of the shock of the January terror attacks.

This will be much more devastating.

[tishaLA]

4. just terrible. keeping those poor hostages in my thoughts

[demosincebirth]

5. Who do they suspect?

[hibbing]

7. I wonder

[geek tragedy]

8. you get one guess nt

[demosincebirth]

11. I do have one guess, but I may get censored for saying the two words

[geek tragedy]

17. if they're non-perjorative references to the type of people

who freak out over cartoons, not likely

[demosincebirth]

35. I did use them in a previous post and so far "all calm on the western front."

[philosslayer]

34. You won't be

Others have already speculated. And the jury voted 7-0 to keep it up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7340374

[demosincebirth]

38. I guess I spoke too soon. the jury has voted...there is hope for DU nt.

[Jesus Malverde]

9. It's a real mystery isn't it.

[Surya Gayatri]

13. BFM TV News reporting that one of the attackers at the Bataclan yelled "THIS IS FOR SYRIA..."

[Lizzie Poppet]

18. Apparently they were hungry...

...since one is said to have loudly demanded "all the snack bar!"

Or something like that...


Yeah, I know: not appropriate to joke about this as it's happening. But the alternatives for me right now are to either cry or rage...and I'm so weary of both of those.

[Surya Gayatri]

19. Black humor is an appropriate response, I think. How else not to

fall into despair?

[Feeling the Bern]

74. Americans respond to tragedy with humor. It's our nature. We did it with the Challenger.

Because I still remember the joke "What color was Krista McCollough's eyes? Blue, because one blew this way and one blew that way."

Humor is our coping mechanism. Never apologize for it.

[bluestateguy]

14. I know who I suspect

but since it's not PC to say so, I'll button my lips until the facts come out.

[philosslayer]

36. Its not PC on DU anymore.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7340374

The genie is out of the bottle.

[Igel]

66. For now.

The political correctors will eventually return to ensure that our thinking and speech are pure and undefiled in form and content.

[valerief]

61. I'm looking forward to Bill Maher's Real Time tonight. nt

[freshwest]

77. Since 5 of the killers are dead now, they may have ID'd them. They're simply calling 'em killers. nt

[eissa]

10. The Tahitians, obviously.

I mean, who else could it be besides those murderous Polynesians?

[Surya Gayatri]

15. Those South Pacific peoples are renowned for their aggressivity and bellicosity...dark LOL!

[Shrike47]

20. On the college football fields around here there are some mighty big Samoans.

[Surya Gayatri]

23. They don't usually pack Kalishnikovs, though.

[petronius]

21. That should be easy to figure out: did anyone report

seeing or hearing a haka before the attacks?

[fingrin]

27. The Haka is from

New Zealand.

[Scootaloo]

29. All across Polynesia, actually

The All Blacks made it famous to the rest of the world, but the haka is a tradition all through the pacific.

[fingrin]

43. What do i know

Im only from NZ

The haka (plural is the same as singular: haka) is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.[

[dbackjon]

31. And has spread to many Polynesian sports teams.

[KamaAina]

44. Including the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors football team

which does the haka during pregame warmups. Once, at a road game at Louisiana Tech, they were penalized 15 yards for intimidating the other team!

[Igel]

67. Lutherans, obviously.

In cohorts with their crypto-allies, the Unitarians.

[mcar]

22. My most sincere condolences

This is horrifying.

[Surya Gayatri]

24. I feel sick to my stomach. This looks worse than the attacks back in January.

Thanks for your support.

[mcar]

28. President Obama just stated

The US stands with France.

[Surya Gayatri]

52. Thanks mcar. The January attacks were really bad, but this is just beyond the pale.

Even President Hollande had tears in his voice as he spoke to the nation.

[jwirr]

25. Let us hope this does not lead to more of the same kind all

over Europe.

[trof]

30. 35 dead at theater acc. to CNN.

[mitty14u2]

33. YouTube Live France & SkyNews

http://news.sky.com/story/1587373/dozens-dead-in-paris-shootings-and-blasts

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mitty14u2]

42. Hostages Being Killed One By One, They are Asking for Help

If you have a twitter account this is the link, Horrible!

https://twitter.com/search?q=french+news&ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Esearch

[davidpdx]

70. Thanks for posting the link

I hate CNN

[cabot]

37. Eagles of Death Metal are performing

I hope everyone who is there can remain safe.

[ucrdem]

39. Very horrible.

So sad to hear this news.

[deutsey]

41. Sigh. I need to go for a long walk.

[Surya Gayatri]

47. Wish I could, but I'm laid up with a broken hip. :(

[freshwest]

76. That's bad. Hope you are healing well. n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

78. Still pretty fresh (2 weeks), but getting better bit by bit.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

[rizlaplus]

48. Fox News aiding terrorists in Paris?

French police asked media not to report on ongoing operation at Bataclan - where a massacre is ongoing with innocents being murdered one-by-one - but Fox continue to report on police operation!!!

[Surya Gayatri]

49. Nothing Fox does would surprise me...

[randome]

55. Fox is, first and foremost, a propaganda organization, then a media organization.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[RantinRavin]

58. Why

Why are you watching Faux News to begin with?

[rockfordfile]

81. fox news and sky news are both right wing

fox news and sky news are both right wing. A tragedy and the right wing types turn it into a circus.

[flamingdem]

50. They are utterly brazen

and don't care if they die, how to fight that?!

[Surya Gayatri]

54. If somebody is crazy enough to blow themselves up, what can you do?

If somebody goes into a crowded venue and starts shooting, knowing they will be brought down, how can you parry that?

Look for repressively tightened security at all public venues in Paris.

[flamingdem]

56. This will have huge repercussions in Europe

and add to discomfort about the millions of refugees coming in. Delicate politics will be needed but it's going to be a state of fear.

[Surya Gayatri]

59. Sadly, yes. "France, terre d'asile" (France, land of asylum) may now be lost.

[riversedge]

51. BREAKING NEWS: 12 hostages just rescued by #police and taken to safety from #Bataclan theater.

ProperGander News ?@BamaStephen 3m3 minutes ago

BREAKING NEWS: 12 hostages just rescued by #police and taken to safety from #Bataclan theater. #Paris #PrayForParis #JeSuisParis

[Surya Gayatri]

64. "1,500 extra troops being deployed in Paris following the attacks."

The hostage situation is over, apparently. They are now locating and bringing out the dead.

[Hekate]

53. KnR and prayers for peace. nt

[Surya Gayatri]

60. This is when one's spiritual beliefs and practices take on special significance.

[Hekate]

63. Yes

May all beings be free from suffering....

[Surya Gayatri]

65. .../...

[MowCowWhoHow III]

57. Around 100 dead in attack on Paris concert venue: police

#BREAKING Around 100 dead in attack on Paris concert venue: police

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/665321462442528768

[Surya Gayatri]

62. BFM TV News is reporting "100+ Dead in Paris"...

"According to a provisional count, 112 people have been killed in Paris, with 70 of those at the Bataclan concert venue."

But, they seem to be finding more victims as we speak.

[blackspade]

71. This reminds me of the 1986 bombings that occured in Europe.

They targeted nightclubs and other venues.
It's fucking horrible. The backlash will likely be brutal.
ISIS is fucking the common people in the Middle East and then they or people like them fuck the refugees when they get somewhere safe. Nihilistic assholes.

And of course regular French citizens have to pay in blood.

[Surya Gayatri]

79. As a headline says this morning--"They Have Hit Us Where We live"...

[coyote]

72. So why wasn't the NSA all over this.

So much for giving up our right and privacy to protect us.

With that said, what a horrible tragedy for all the victims. Disgusting.

[riderinthestorm]

73. Some victim must have offended the terrorists, maybe a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist

thus its "understandable" there's offense and murder.

[freshwest]

75. I was listening and watching to a live feed from Paris by Sky News and it was calm and detailed.

Number of deaths over 158. Listened to statements by Hollande and Obama.

But how are you and yours doing, Surya. I thought about you and am glad you posted tonight. Or rather morning in Paris...

[Surya Gayatri]

80. France 24 has the best coverage, IMHO. No hysterics, no histrionics, just the facts.

Thanks for asking, Freshwest. Except for hobbling around on my broken hip, I'm fine, even though I live just 10 minutes away from the resturant (La Belle Equipe) that was attacked in the rue de Charonne.