Multiple Shootings/Bombings in Paris

[VomKriege]

Gunshots in Paris and two explosions heard from the stadium where France and Germany are playing a friendly football match.

Well shit.

Edit: people killed at a restaurant I know a bit. Fuck.

[Samson Manhug]

Looks like it might be a coordinated attack on multiple targets according to Twitter activity (nothing confirmed so far.)

[VomKriege]

Looks like it might be a coordinated attack on multiple targets according to Twitter activity (nothing confirmed so far.)

Might be, piecing first reports from French newspaper.
People killed at two of three separate locations (all relatively close, so there's a pattern). Explosions reported near the stadium but also near a famous concert hall (where one of the shootings occured). EDIT : 18 killed for certain.
A pair of gunmen (several ?), probably with assault rifles. EDIT : Probably in a car, moving from places to places.
Quite a bit of police sirens right now by my windows.
President apparently exfiltred from stadium by security detachment.

Shit occured in places I know. 
Will totally not help the toxic political climate here. Expect the far right to do very well in the next elections, probably the presidential one. 

EDIT : Reports of gunfire in more places.

[Samson Manhug]

Stay safe VomKriege.

[VomKriege]

Stay safe VomKriege.

Thanks, I'm at home so no big worries.
Pretty shook up nonetheless to be honest.
I already heard the assault on the Kosher supermarket from my desk. Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do to prevent attacks like these, and they will probably keep happening for many years to come.

EDIT : Hostage situation reported at concert hall Bataclan. Maybe up to 5 shooters.

All the rage from Mumbai and Moscow, now at your doorstep 

[Samson Manhug]

There's a report that the restaurant attack happened from people sitting at tables there who stood up, put on masks, and started shooting.

Also 60 people being held at the concert hall.

Fox News now reporting bombings were suicide bombers

Edit: Attack at concert hall was an Eagles of Death Metal show

[VomKriege]

I doesn't see any reports about people posing as clients or suicide bombers here. Please note the french media is a bit in a panic to cover this so we will probably be get many conflicting informations and international outlets are probably working from even worse sources.

Hostage situation at the Bataclan seems unfortunately very real. Large police perimeter there and the RAID (French SWAT) has arrived there. The stadium may be partially or totally closed and the audience seems to be staying on the pitch.

[Samson Manhug]

That's interesting to know. Fox News seems in a rush to broadcast anything they hear.

[brob]

That's interesting to know. Fox News seems in a rush to broadcast anything they hear.

[VomKriege]

Sadly it's impossible to dispel so far any report, even the most ludicrous. Guns have been fired apparently along the way by the motorized killers (drive by shootings one or two streets below already reported sites). I see reports of gunfire in Les Halles (not the same zone than the first shootings). If it's an Radical Islamic attack and they wanted to strike a big publicity hit, one cannot dismissed they would try to use several shooting team to induce as much panic during all night or even in the following day.

With the Climate Summit coming, I expect the city to be put under serious lockdown for the coming weeks.

[VomKriege]

People inside the Bataclan urging on social media for an assault, shooters killing "everyone".

[Steve Contra]

Fuck me, my friend's restaurant is right by one of the shootings.  They shot out his windows but everyone inside was safe, but he's saying there's bodies all over the street.

[Boogie]

People inside the Bataclan urging on social media for an assault, shooters killing "everyone".

Fucking hell.

[VomKriege]

People inside the Bataclan urging on social media for an assault, shooters killing "everyone".

Fucking hell.

Sorry, I'm not thinking perfectly clear. It was one person and of course it is hard to vouch for authenticity and accuracy.

Fuck me, my friend's restaurant is right by one of the shootings.  They shot out his windows but everyone inside was safe, but he's saying there's bodies all over the street.

All my toughts go to him (and you). This disgusting shit have tainted the streets I grew up in and where I still roam daily.

President say all French borders closed. Police assault still underway at Paris in one unspecified place (Bataclan probably).

[Boogie]

Sorry, I'm not thinking perfectly clear. It was one person and of course it is hard to vouch for authenticity and accuracy.

Dude, you don't have to apologize for anything right now.

[chronovore]

Hang in there, VomKriege. Post when you can.

[VomKriege]

Of course, but I wouldn't want to spread misinformation. I'm safe where I am. Shit is probably FUBAR as it is.
It is pretty harrowing to be there at this fucking keyboard, powerless.

One of the stadium bomb may have been a suicide bomber.
Choppers above my place now, probably security forces.
Schools closed tomorrow in all Paris region.

[brawndolicious]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11995227/Paris-shooting-Many-feared-dead-live.html

Supposedly one of the terrorists at the bataclan said this was for Syria. I wonder if this is part of an ISIS backlash against all the countries involved in the Syrian civil war along with the Ankara mosque bombing and the Russian jet crash but that's just my own stupid speculation.

It would help to avoid news for a couple days until the perpetrators are caught VomKriege.

[VomKriege]

Sure. Life will go on, because it always does. Will probably be less fixated tomorrow. Right now under this terrible morbid fascination for news... Can't sleep anyway.

Probably ISIS, could also be a Sahel related group. France is a very active military country overseas still, even though it is often understated even in national politics (Fucking up Africa and the Lebanon coast is what we do, you know).

[Kara]

I know you are atm, but stay safe VK. Best to you and your friends and family.

[VomKriege]

Fucking BFM TV (24h news channel) being ordered to blackout the assault on their channel not to compromise the operation. Again. They already did that shit for the Charlie shootings and the Merah one. 

[Great Rumbler]

This is kind of the worst fear I had about the evolution of terrorism in the West. Big operations like 9/11 are impressive, but if you don't live in NYC or work in a skyscraper, it doesn't really affect your ability to continue with your daily life. And they take years and years of planning, making it more likely to be discovered before it can be carried out. But multiple simultaneous assaults by two or three armed people on soft targets [cafes, concert halls, stadiums, ect.] where large groups of people congregate is going to have a serious impact on the entire city of Paris and it's going to be a long while before people feel truly safe just going about their lives.

Thoughts and prayers to everybody in Paris. Stay safe.

[VomKriege]

Probable very heavy casualties at the Bataclan.

[Boogie]

This is kind of the worst fear I had about the evolution of terrorism in the West. Big operations like 9/11 are impressive, but if you don't live in NYC or work in a skyscraper, it doesn't really affect your ability to continue with your daily life. And they take years and years of planning, making it more likely to be discovered before it can be carried out. But multiple simultaneous assaults by two or three armed people on soft targets [cafes, concert halls, stadiums, ect.] where large groups of people congregate is going to have a serious impact on the entire city of Paris and it's going to be a long while before people feel truly safe just going about their lives.

Thoughts and prayers to everybody in Paris. Stay safe.

Yup.  Speaking from a law enforcement perspective, what we on occasion discuss at coffee break, is that it's really a minor miracle that this style of attack attack doesn't happen more often, considering how simple it would be to pull off, given a few like-minded associates, access to firearms, and even a basic conception of operational security.

When I think back to the Ottawa attack from a year ago, where the lone gunman was able to get inside our freakin' Parliament buildings, I can only imagine how much worse it could have been if he A) wasn't such a fuckup, and B) had 3 friends who wanted to join in.

[BrokenVerses]

Probable very heavy casualties at the Bataclan.

Police are saying 100 dead there now.

https://twitter.com/afpfr/status/665321243889893376

[Boogie]

Probable very heavy casualties at the Bataclan.

Police are saying 100 dead there now.

https://twitter.com/afpfr/status/665321243889893376

Yeah.  I think that number is only going to climb higher as the night goes on. 

[Joe Molotov]

This is awful.

[VomKriege]

The Bataclan can hold 1500 people so... yeah.
Also a fire in the Calais "jungle". The "jungle" is an hotbed of immigrants trying to get to the UK, a sad situation for many years (Former President Sarkozy closed the retention center with fanfare... But the refugees themselves were never relocated. What a fucking twat.). I hope this is not arson, situation is already gutwrenching as it is, don't need fucking xenophobes on top of that.

Thank you to accomodate my ramblings. This was pretty much the only outlet I had to vent. I treated myself to a Black Bottle glass just now. Let me reciprocate my thoughts to any other Boreans who might be in France or have acquaintances here. Would like to extend that to all of those that has to suffer this ideological scourge, Beyrouth and anywhere else.

[mormapope]

Apparently that fire is old news/someone looking to stir shit up on social media.

[StealthFan]

Religion of peace.

[Phoenix Dark]

Stay safe Paris-Bore. RIP to victims.

I agree that these types of "smaller" style terrorist attacks seem far easier to plan and execute than another grand 911 style attack. In a sense we already see it to an extent, on a near monthly basis with these mass public shootings.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Abrahamic religion

[close]

[Madrun Badrun]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11995227/Paris-shooting-Many-feared-dead-live.html

Supposedly one of the terrorists at the bataclan said this was for Syria.

Syria now or Syria 1923?

[VomKriege]

Things seems to have cooled down, at last. Will probably call it a night.

Just as an aside : French President Francois Hollande has activated the exceptional powers as per Article 16 of our Constitution. Probably expect a hunt for possible perps at large in the following days. Would not be surprised to see the military participation against ISIS to be ramped up in the coming weeks.

[Tasty]

I feel sick. I feel like throwing up and crying and drinking until I can't think, but all I can do is watch my TV with a steadily more-horrified expression.

My thoughts are with you, France.

[qq more]

My stomach felt sick when I heard the death toll from the hostage situation itself. Horrible.

Genuinely sad about all of this. Paris was one of the cities I've always want to visit (due to heritage). No one deserves this. RIP to all of the victims and I pray for everyone affected from all of these tragedies that occurred today.

[Tasty]

I almost went this summer and was planning on going next summer. Now I don't know. I'm such a fucking coward.

[Boogie]

I almost went this summer and was planning on going next summer. Now I don't know. I'm such a fucking coward.

Don't you fucking dare change your plans according to this attack.

You're from Boston, right?  Did the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing stop you from spending time in the city afterwards?  No?  Then don't you treat this any differently.

[brawndolicious]

The one time I went to France was a year after the Paris riots and I found some Parisians would act either super friendly or dismissive (I'm assuming because I'm middle-eastern). To be honest, I would actually like to visit again now.

[Atramental]

Stay safe VK and other borians in Paris.

[Tasty]

I almost went this summer and was planning on going next summer. Now I don't know. I'm such a fucking coward.

Don't you fucking dare change your plans according to this attack.

You're from Boston, right?  Did the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing stop you from spending time in the city afterwards?  No?  Then don't you treat this any differently.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. On the other hand I felt a sense of solidarity with Boston by living here. Almost like, "if I die because I live here than so be it." It's hard to have that feeling when traveling, as much as I sympathize with the French people (see most of my conversations here with Kara.) I'm second-guessing myself and saying "maybe I should go somewhere safer..."

Like I said, coward and all that. I'll probably reevaluate in February or March.

[pilonv1]

I was there on this day last year, walked everywhere and never felt unsafe anywhere. Really tragic news

[Rufus]

This is fucking me up right now. A lot of scales will have been tipped a certain way today. Not looking forward to the next couple of years.

I feel like (re-)learning French.

[Kara]

Are you André Masséna or are you the Marquis de Bouillé, Andy-kun? SMGDH, allez with you.

[Tasty]

Are you André Masséna or are you the Marquis de Bouillé, Andy-kun? SMGDH, allez with you.

Allez yourself, fuckstain.

[Kara]

I'm more of a shitstain imo.

[Samson Manhug]

This is fucking me up right now. A lot of scales will have been tipped a certain way today. Not looking forward to the next couple of years.

I feel like (re-)learning French.

This is basically why I think these things don't happen more often. One mass casualty attack in a strong Western country and those Westerners are ready to throw out their hard fought foundational ideals of liberty like they are nothing. Governments move right, the populous turns against you, and military/police presence ramps up so much soft targets start disappearing—leaving you with nowhere to go and no more momentum.

Look at the Battle of Algiers: a few bombings at Western cafes and suddenly whole neighborhoods are essentially turned into free fire zones with the culmination being the local FLN leader surrounded in the rubble of his neighborhood and blowing himself up in a closet.

On a grand scale, I don't think these types of attacks are very helpful for the cause of the belligerents (as opposed to the more meticulously planned 9/11 style attacks) and I believe they (AQ/ISIS proper) understand that.

[suppadoopa]

Stay strong Paris

[Am_I_Anonymous]

Goddamn it. How long are are we, as the strongest nation on the plant, going to let this go on?

[Am_I_Anonymous]

I mean I'm not trying to sound imperialist at all. But this shit has gotta stop.

[Kara]

If I met this writer in person he would no longer have teeth.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/427064/paris-terror-attacks-long-war-continues

“Allahu Akbar!” cried the jihadists as they killed innocent after French innocent. The commentators told us it means “God is great.” But it doesn’t. It means “Allah is greater!” It is a comparative, a cry of combative aggression: “Our God is mightier than yours.”

A comparative compares two things, a superlative compares one thing to everything. If you want to decry the existential foreign menace, learn how to speak English.

E: Also it's greatest, not greater. Don't take up Arabic translation either.

[benjipwns]

I find it very interesting that the mainstream media refuses to come out and admit exactly what all of these attackers had in common. Especially in light of all the recent campus protests touching on similar themes.

They were in France.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Uuuh I think we know Benji

Great job of making Europe even more anti muslim goatfuckers

Smh, I was at a pro refugee protest a while back, good luck getting any support now to help these people in neef

[Tasty]

Thoroughly drunk now. Reality is but a waking nightmare.

[VomKriege]

I mean I'm not trying to sound imperialist at all. But this shit has gotta stop.

Don't fool yourselves, we are looking forward to 20+ years of this shit, if not more. Regardless of successfully disbanding the Islamic State (although I think this will have to be done for long term prospects). It's a very rough opinion but as I said it is pretty much our Cold War equivalent.

[T-Short]

Goddamn it. How long are are we, as the strongest nation on the plant, going to let this go on?

Keep bombing weddings and hospitals, I'm sure their recruiting ranks will thin out eventually 

[VomKriege]

Also to consider : Dismantling the IS... then what ? Irak as an entity is probably deader than disco. Syria and Lebanon national identity is to be shaky. Last I heard Libya was not doing so great. This shit is the new Balkans.

War is a continuation of politics, etc... No point going in without at least a rough outline of what entities we are supposed to prop up to try to keep things checked.

Goddamn it. How long are are we, as the strongest nation on the plant, going to let this go on?

Keep bombing weddings and hospitals, I'm sure their recruiting ranks will thin out eventually 

Don't want to be apologetic for those screw ups or a state of permanent war without any borders, but I think it would be a bit foolish to dismiss the efficiency of armed action. War can be a totally apt way of destroying or at the very least suppressing hostile groups long enough to work some sort of political solution. There is no automatic correlation and automatism between repression and enemy recruitment, even if of course you must strategize to minimize that factor. Western military doctrine may struggle with "irregular warfare" but the truth is that some counter insurgencies (Western led or not) did in fact succeed.

[VomKriege]

Anyway was en route to donate blood, but no need since they are already full. Will go in a few days.

A bit of tension at my baker, a client's wife made a fuss because the female cashier (tunisian) made a joke about shaving his beard earlier.

Otherwise streets looked normal. A tad quiet... Public parks and schools closed though, as a reminder.

Edit: According to blood donation guidelines, gays are in effect banned from it. Apparently common in many western countries. What the fuck is this shit.

[T-Short]

Edit: According to blood donation guidelines, gays are in effect banned from it. Apparently common in many western countries. What the fuck is this shit.

Yeah, the French law is lifetime ban if you've had man-on-man sexual relations, right? The EU court has declared that this is a-ok for member states too http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2015-04/cp150046en.pdf

[VomKriege]

Edit: According to blood donation guidelines, gays are in effect banned from it. Apparently common in many western countries. What the fuck is this shit.

Yeah, the French law is lifetime ban if you've had man-on-man sexual relations, right? The EU court has declared that this is a-ok for member states too http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2015-04/cp150046en.pdf

Not sure of the exact law, but the FAQ mentioned a total impossibility. At the very least way more stringent conditions making it close to impossible.

A guy on GAF pointed out that there was some real medical statistics to back that decision. I guess ultimately, normalized (instead of clandestine or fringe) gay relationships will dull most of that statistical risk. Still sounds a bit fucked up on the face of it.

[Madrun Badrun]

Edit: According to blood donation guidelines, gays are in effect banned from it. Apparently common in many western countries. What the fuck is this shit.

Yeah, the French law is lifetime ban if you've had man-on-man sexual relations, right? The EU court has declared that this is a-ok for member states too http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2015-04/cp150046en.pdf

Not sure of the exact law, but the FAQ mentioned a total impossibility. At the very least way more stringent conditions making it close to impossible.

A guy on GAF pointed out that there was some real medical statistics to back that decision. I guess ultimately, normalized (instead of clandestine or fringe) gay relationships will dull most of that statistical risk. Still sounds a bit fucked up on the face of it.

Canada does this too.  Started during the 80's Aids scare however gay men still have a huge statistical chance of having a an STD over non-gays.