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What It's Like On The Ground In France Right Now

by Maggie Malach

Update: French police confirmed a total of six attacks in Paris, including two suicide attacks and one bombing near the Stade de France, as well as attacks at the Bataclan concert hall and a restaurant. French news outlets reported that police launched an assault on the Bataclan concert hall, where gunmen were holding 100 hostages. According to The Guardian, eight attackers are dead, several of whom died after detonating suicide belts. Authorities have reported that the number of fatalities has reached at least 120. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks; President Hollande agrees it was the terror group. A motive has yet to be determined.

Earlier: Devastating news out of Paris late Friday night, Nov. 13. The Associated Press reports that as many as 26 people are dead following a shooting and explosions in Paris. Details are scarce as the story is still developing, but reports are slowly coming in. Several grenade explosions reportedly went off at Stade de France, the country's national stadium, during a France vs. Germany match. Rory Mulholland of the Telegraph spoke to a witness there who said, "There were two really loud bangs and they were enormous. I thought it was coming from inside the stadium but someone told me later that they were grenades thrown outside at a restaurant. Everybody in the stadium was stunned. The match was continuing but people have been told that they will not be able to leave the stadium immediately." Gregory Goupil of the Police Union Alliance reportedly said those two explosions were suicide attacks.

Additionally, there was a shooting at a Cambodian restaurant in the 10th arrondissement of the city and a second shooting near a nightclub called Le Bataclan. Even worse, hostages are reportedly being held inside the club. There are 60-100 people inside, and reports from France 24 are saying that hostages are being shot one by one.

Twitter was quickly filled with reports from eyewitness around Paris as the city reacted to the tragic news. You can check out those responses in the tweets below. We'll be keeping the city in our thoughts and hoping for the safety of its citizens as this sad story develops.