Around 20:00 on Friday, six organized attacks by eight attackers took place throughout the city of Paris. The most deadly of them all took place at the Bataclan, a theatre hosting a concert that night. The sound of explosions and gunshots pierced the air as four gunmen entered the venue and began to shoot randomly into the onlooking crowd. At the theatre, 129 people were held hostage and only around 30 people survived the situation. At the Stade de France where France was playing Germany in a soccer game; at least 20 people were shot dead by the other attackers. The remaining of the near total of 150 people who died amongst the attacks were victims to the shootings at local restaurants and cafes. Survivors said they heard the gunmen yelling, “Allahu Akbar!” as the killers aimed indiscriminately at panicked people, shooting them dead with no remorse. Muslims commonly use this phrase for numerous reasons, but mainly while one takes part in Jihad, which is an Islamic word for the Muslim religious duty to preserve their belief system. Other killers were heard to have been yelling, “It’s Hollande’s fault”, referring to the airstrikes on Syria only days before the massive attack unfolded. Police took three of the attackers down, and some of the leftover attackers used suicide bombs to kill themselves and others surrounding. Following the barbaric attack, about 300 people are hospitalized and around 80 are in critical condition.
It is confirmed by military officials that the attacks were indeed terrorist attacks by the Islamic State Militant group known as ISIS. The group came out online admitting to lead the attacks. Supporters of the extremists praised the slaughter on social media. Some even stated that they were “acts of miracle”. Next to the bodies of the gunmen, a Syrian and an Egyptian passport were found, that are reportedly linked to the attacks. The man with the Syrian passport reportedly gained access into France among other Syrian refugees who decided to flee their country’s civil war destruction. As investigation continued, three brothers are suspected to be involved in the assaults. One brother was caught in Belgium, another died during the attacks, and the third is identified as Salah Abdeslam, who is still being searched for. France is still searching and investigating every suspect linked to the ISIS group, including those who constructed the suicide vests used to set off the bombs in several locations. Reasoning behind the mass murder was stated by ISIS themselves, who posted a video online explaining that the attacks were a result of French air striking on Syria and Egypt.
The French president Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency for the country, initiating martial law and closing down the borders of France. The borders are rumored to be shut down for up to three months in order to ensure safety. Hollande is not going to take a back seat to these gruesome attacks. He described France’s next move as “merciless” towards ISIS, determined to eliminate the terrorist group that recruits vulnerable people over the internet to join their extreme ideals. On the Sunday following the attack, French military planes launched their largest offensive on ISIS yet, dropping around 20 bombs on the Islamic state points.
Like a game of chess, someone has to make the next move. We can only pray that it not be ISIS. This leaves the public, as well as governing bodies, with bigger questions. Where will ISIS carry out its next mass murder? How do we handle such a savage group of people? Do we continue to allow Syrian refugees into our country despite the possibility of terrorists sneaking in with them, as they did with the Paris attacks? Should we, as a nation, get involved? Already the political world is exploding; turning every piece of this horrifying scenario into a tool of debate.
As an observer of the media, it's obvious to me that people have lost their sense of sympathy. Ignoring the families who lost loved ones on November 13, 2015, some have argued over who we should feel sorry for, what we should do next, all while losing our unified humanity amongst the destruction. But isn’t that what ISIS wants us to do? To become weak with controversy; quick to reach conclusions. If there is one thing to get out of this sad and horrifying event, it is to unify, to become strong and to refrain from any judgment about future decisions until you have lived it, like the many who witnessed and lost their lives this past weekend in Paris, France. Pray for those who were lost. Pray for reprisal and justice in the future. Pray for Paris, and anyone else fallen victim to the growing, powerful terrorist group that won't stop until acted upon.
Je suis Paris, êtes-vous?
