Pray for Paris: A City in Shock
In the wake of tragedy, the world is united in support for France and other countries that have been victim to terrorist attacks.
December 2015
Kendra Tse '19
Paris, France, November 19th 2015; 130 people died and hundreds more were wounded in a series of coordinated terrorists attacks that shook up the entire world.
One of the first attacks occurred in the Stade de France, the stadium where three suicide bombers detonated their devices killing 3 people (besides themselves). At the time, France was playing Germany in a soccer match. French president Francois Hollande was even in attendance. The players continued through the first two explosions but the game ceased when the third explosion occurred and the president was evacuated. After the explosions, many spectators fled onto the field fearing for their safety.
As events at the Stade de France unfolded, several mass shootings occurred at bars and restaurants all around the city.
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The deadliest attack of the night took place at the Bataclan Concert Hall, where the American rock band, Eagles of Death Metal, was playing. Chaos erupted when three attackers charged into the concert and open fired on the crowd, killing 89 people and injuring at least 100 more. The attackers were wearing suicide belts and detonated them as security forces descended upon them.
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After the attacks, an international effort was made to catch the culprits of these senseless crimes. At this point, a majority of the attackers and those aiding them have been identified and apprehended, although two suspects still remain on the run.
The Paris attacks have spurred deserved worldwide outrage and emotion, but many have felt offended by the lack of attention given to other places such as Beirut and Baghdad where similarly devastating events transpired within days of the Paris attacks.
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Two days before the Paris attacks, Beirut was hit with 2 devastating suicide bombings that killed 43 people and injured 200 others. A week before the Paris attacks, a suicide bomber targeted a funeral in Baghdad. At least 19 people were killed in this incident and close to 50 were injured.
All three of these terrorist attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) a militant terrorist group that has been instilling fear and pain all around the world.