Up to 120 people could be dead after shootouts in central Paris, and explosions were heard near a stadium where a soccer match between France and Germany was underway, BFM TV and other French media reported on Friday. An earlier report said the death toll hovered around 30, but has since risen exponentially.
France 24 television said that president Francois Hollande had been at the Stade de France and was taken out of the area. News media also now report five of the assailants have been killed.
BFM TV also says there are some hostages. People are being held hostage at the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris after several shots were fired, French news channel BFM TV reported on Friday.
Shooting at the Bataclan began one hour into the concert of a California rock group called Eagles of Death Metal, BFM TV said, adding that one or two people came in and began shooting in the air.
Hollande and his interior minister rushed were rushing from the soccer match to the ministry to deal with the unfolding situation, an official said.
One witness said he hear gunshots as he was walking on a street in the 10th district of Paris close to Place de La République. When he arrived outside a restaurant he saw bodies on the ground
“I saw three bodies being put into body bags,” said Fabien Baron, a student. {eoa}
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