PARIS, Nov. 13 (UPI) — French President Francois Hollande marked the one-year anniversary of the Islamic State-linked terror attacks in Paris, including at the Bataclan concert hall, that left 130 dead and hundreds injured.
Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo unveiled two plaques at the doors of the Bataclan, where 90 people were killed during an Eagles of Death Metal concert. They also unveiled plaques at restaurants and bars where victims were shot down and a plaque at the doors of the Stade de France to commemorate Manual Dias, the first person killed in the series of attacks across the city. The 63-year-old was outside the national stadium as France was playing Germany in a soccer match.
Three suicide bombers detonated themselves and others in the group opened fire on Nov. 13, 2015 at the concert venue. Another 40 people died in coordinated attacks on the stadium and local restaurants.
“We the players and all those who were in the stadium that day, we are all linked by this tragedy,” France captain Hugo Lloris said. “It’s a tragic event but as we use to say, we have to look forward and try to turn the page, even if this event will be engraved in our memories.”
The names of the victims were read aloud during the solemn commemoration. Dias’s son said in a speech, “Long live tolerance, long live intelligence, long live France.” Also among those present were members of Eagles of Death Metal.
Saturday, the commemoration was marked by the reopening of the Bataclan with Sting headlining.
Local news reported Hollande did not make any speeches in an effort to avoid being accused of trying to collect political gain from the moment.
