PARIS, Nov. 14 (UPI) — The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility Saturday for the coordinated attacks in the French capital, saying IS “soldiers” targeted the “capital of prostitution and obscenity” and warned it was “the first of the storm.”
The remarks came in a statement published in Arabic, English and French on social media, according to the Jihadist watchdog organization SITE Intelligence Group. The statement was released on the same Telegram channel used to claim responsibility for the Russian jet crash over the Sinai peninsula two weeks ago, that left 224 people dead.
According to a translation by SITE Intel, the IS said ” eight brothers wrapped in explosive belts and armed with machine rifles, targeted sites that were accurately chosen in the heart of the capital of France, including the Stade de France during the match between the Crusader German and French teams, where the fool of France,Francois Hollande, was present.”
Early Saturday, Hollande said the near-simultaneous attacks that left at least 127 dead an “act of war” organized abroad by the IS and vowed to wage a “merciless” fight against the militant organization.
Hollande put France’s security at its highest level with the military continuing to patrol France’s streets to give residents a sense of security. Parisians were encouraged to stay home. Hollande declared a three-day period of national mourning.
Authorities believed the eight people who carried out the attacks were dead, but are wary of accomplices still on the run. All city facilities, buildings and subways will remain closed through Saturday. The borders will also remain closed.
He said the attacks that left dozens injured were, “committed by a terrorist army, the Islamic State group, a jihadist army, against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: A free country that means something to the whole planet.”
“France will be pitiless concerning the barbarity of Daesh,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for the militants, also known as IS, ISIS or ISIL. He did not detail what intelligence was gathered that connected the IS to the attacks.
French police continued their search for possible accomplices to the eight people who carried out the attacks. Seven of the attackers died in suicide bombings and one died in a shootout with police at the Bataclan concert hall, where gunmen shot and killed concert-goers one-by-one. Extremists triggered explosives and fired shots during a performance by the California rock band Eagles of Death Metal. At least 118 died.
Scores of others died in apparent coordinate attacks:
Stade de France — At the national soccer stadium where France and Germany were playing an exhibition match, attackers bombed two stadium entrances and a nearby McDonald’s restaurant. At least three died. Hollande, who was watching the game, was evacuated from the stadium after the blasts.
La Belle Equipe — As many as 18 people died at this sidewalk cafe on Rue de Charonne.
Le Carillon and Le Petit Cambodge — About 14 people died at Le Carillon, a bar, and the nearby Cambodian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge. Many others were gravely wounded.
La Belle Equipe — This bar on Rue de Charonne was also attacked. It is unclear if there were any casualties.
La Casa Nostra — Located a few hundred yards from the Bataclan, the terrace of this pizzeria was targeted. At least five people were targeted by attackers with automatic rifles.
