Reports of Several Explosions, a Hostage Situation in Paris

Rescuers responding to a call following the shootings in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.

A wave of violence rocked Paris on Friday evening, with gunmen reportedly firing on several targets and explosions outside France’s national stadium, according to multiple press reports. Police sources said that 39 people were killed, according to reports by Reuters, Fox News, and the AFP.

Gunmen fired on the Petit Cambodge, a restaurant in the 11th Arrondissement; there was an explosion near the Stadium of France, where the French national team is hosting the German national team; and more gunmen opened fire in the street in the 11th Arrondissement, as per varying reports from the Agence France-Presse, BBC, and CNN.

According to the Associated Press, police sources said there were two suicide attacks and one bombing near the stadium.

French President Francois Hollande was evacuated from the stadium,according to ​The New York Times​. Just before midnight in Paris, Hollande announced a nation-wide state of emergency, and said the country would close its borders, according to a live translation of his remarks by France 24. “What the terrorists want is for us to be scared,” Hollande said, appealing to the French people to “stay strong.”

“Please have faith in our security forces,” Hollande said, according to the translation.

There have also been reports that dozens of people are being held hostage at the Bataclan, a Parisian music venue. A fourth attack was reported at the Les Halles shopping mall, but more details were not immediately available.

French social-media users began posting under the hashtag #PorteOuverte as a means of providing sanctuary to tourists or citizens who did not have safe shelter immediately available to them.

President Barack Obama, the German foreign ministry, and British prime minister David Cameron issued statements of support for the French people. “Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attack to terrorize innocent civilians,” Obama said during an emergency briefing at the White House. “This is an attack on all of humanity, and all of the universal values we share . . . France is our oldest ally, and we stand together.”

A video posted from inside the stadium showed a number of people on the field, with helicopters heard overhead:

Hélicoptère, pelouse envahie, scènes surréalistes. pic.twitter.com/PT5HXyKbDK

— Vincent Menichini (@v_menichini) November 13, 2015

If you’re concerned about your loved ones in Paris, here are some useful numbers.