French security forces were in the process of taking a building in Paris by assault, an ashen-faced President Francois Hollande said in a live television address just before midnight.
“Several dozen people have been killed and many have been wounded,” Mr Hollande said.
“It is a horror. I have mobilised all possible forces to neutralise the terrorists. I have also requested military reinforcements so that there will be no further attacks.”
Mr Hollande said a midnight cabinet meeting would declare a state of emergency. Parts of Paris would be cordoned off. Traffic would be stopped and searches would be made throughout the Paris region.
Mr Hollande also said he would close France’s borders. “No one can enter to commit any act whatsoever,” he said.
“This is a terrible trial that assails us yet again,” Mr Hollande said, referring to the jihadist attacks that claimed 17 lives last January. “We know where it’s coming from, who are the criminals, who are the terrorists. In these very difficult moments… we must show compassion and solidarity, unity and sang-froid.”
France must be strong in the face of terror, Mr Hollande added.
“What the terrorists want is to frighten us. There is reason to have fear, but facing the terror is a nation that knows how to defend itself, how to mobilise its strength and which will know, yet again, how to vanquish the terrorists.”
The security forces had not yet completed their operations, Mr Hollande said. “At this very moment, they are making an assault in a place in Paris. Have confidence in our security forces to protect the nation.”
US president Barack Obama condemned the attacks in Paris, calling them an “outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians”.
He said this is “not just an attack on the people of france, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share”. He said the US stands prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance France needs to respond, but did not want to speculate on who may be behind the attacks.
“France is our oldest ally and has stood shoulder to shoulder with us time and again. Those who think they can terrorise France or their values are wrong,” he said.
“Liberté, égalité and fraternité are values that we share, and they are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism.”
“We don’t yet know all details of what has happened we have been in contact with French government.”
“We know what it’s like, we’ve gone through situations like this. Whenever these kinds of attacks happen, we’ve always been able to rely on France.”
