Paris is in State of Emergency

[2 quid is good 2,209]

Guys, it's really over now. They've killed all 8 gunmen. There is no confirmation that the gunmen were Muslim and there have been no links made to Isis. Police are closing all public buildings and amenities on Saturday.

 

But travel to Paris has not been stopped. Tye Eurostar and Eurotunnel are running their services as normal and only American Airlines are cancelling or delaying their flights

Also, the death toll has been properly counted and is less than what was previously reported, standing at 120. However around 200 people are injured, some badly

[Moochieh32 676]

Heart goes out to those innocent who have been affected by this tragic event.

[supermegaroxas 155]

Wasn't yoko shimomura there just a few days ago?

[catmaster0116 2,676]

It is really tragic and really unfortunate. No spoken words are enough to console the colossal amount of pain and suffering of those involved families who have lost loved ones. I just feel that its awful that there are such people in this world who would want to make this world an even uglier place than it already is.

 

My heartfelt sympathies goes out to those involved in Paris.

[littleTSUBAME 483]

*sigh* Again... Why does it seem like there are only bad news these days? The world has become so scary lately. : / It's sometimes just so hard to understand how some people could actually do something like this.

This is a real tragedy, I am so sorry for everyone affected by this... I just hope there won't be any more victims and the injured people will recover properly.

[Solstice 749]

I choose not to comment on this

[KHUndertaleFan25 2,858]

Paris is in my prayers...

[Weedanort 8,786]

  On 11/14/2015 at 12:41 PM, Pachirisu said:

I choose not to comment on this

 

You just did

 

I was following the news from up close when it started, it's really sad to hear something like this happened

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

Update on who is claiming responsibility

 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for attacks that killed 127 people in Paris, saying it sent militants strapped with suicide bombing belts and carrying machine guns to various locations in the heart of the capital.

The attacks, described by France's president as an act of war, were designed to show the country would remain in danger as long as it continued its current policies, Islamic State said in a statement.

"To teach France, and all nations following its path, that they will remain at the top of Islamic State’s list of targets, and that the smell of death won’t leave their noses as long as they partake in their crusader campaign," said the group.

French President Francois Hollande said the violence was organized from abroad by Islamic State with internal help.

"Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action," he said, without saying what that meant.

View gallery

A postcard and flowers are left in tribute to victims of Paris attacks outside the French Embassy in …

The attacks at a stadium, concert hall and cafes and restaurants in northern and eastern Paris were "an act of war committed by Daesh that was prepared, organized and planned from outside (of France)" with help from inside France, Hollande said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Earlier on Saturday, Islamic State redistributed a video, that first appeared on the internet a year ago, threatening to attack France if bombings of its fighters continued.

The group's foreign media arm, Al-Hayat Media Centre, made threats through several militants who called on French Muslims to carry out attacks.

"As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear traveling to the market," said one of the militants, identified as Abu Maryam the Frenchman.

Hollande said the attacks were "an act of war".

View gallery

A young boy leaves flowers in tribute to victims of Paris attacks outside the French Embassy in Lond …

The location of the Islamic State fighters in the video was not clear and it was not possible to determine when it was filmed, but the message was unmistakable.

The fighters, who appeared to be French citizens, sat cross-legged in a group wearing fatigues and holding weapons in what appeared to be a wooded area. The video showed the militants burning passports.

"Indeed you have been ordered to fight the infidel wherever you find him – what are you waiting for?," said Abu Maryam.

"Know that jihad in this time is obligatory on all."

Another militant, identified as Abu Salman the Frenchman, said: "There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit. Even poison is available, so poison the water and food of at least one of the enemies of Allah."

View gallery

People warm up under protective thermal blankets as they prepare to board a bus to be evacuated near …

"Terrorize them and do not allow them to sleep due to fear and horror," he added.

Foreign fighters who join Islamic State, the group which controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, are seen as especially dangerous because Western passports enable them to live in and travel to Western countries undetected.

Another militant in the video, identified as Abu Osama the Frenchman, appealed to Muslims living in France to head to Syria to wage jihad, in "a message from your French brothers".

"Jihad is the path of Allah You strengthen their economy and pay taxes which they use to fight us, and kill our sister, our women and our children," he said.

"Are you not embarrassed? Repent to your Lord and come join us. Because a day may come when the borders will be closed and you will be left only with tears and regret."

(Additional reporting by Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by John Stonestreet)

http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-paris-attacks-105251415.html

[Mystics Apprentice 2,397]

  On 11/14/2015 at 1:34 PM, Flaming Lea said:

Update on who is claiming responsibility

 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for attacks that killed 127 people in Paris, saying it sent militants strapped with suicide bombing belts and carrying machine guns to various locations in the heart of the capital.

The attacks, described by France's president as an act of war, were designed to show the country would remain in danger as long as it continued its current policies, Islamic State said in a statement.

"To teach France, and all nations following its path, that they will remain at the top of Islamic State’s list of targets, and that the smell of death won’t leave their noses as long as they partake in their crusader campaign," said the group.

French President Francois Hollande said the violence was organized from abroad by Islamic State with internal help.

"Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action," he said, without saying what that meant.

 

 

View gallery[/size]

A postcard and flowers are left in tribute to victims of Paris attacks outside the French Embassy in …

 

The attacks at a stadium, concert hall and cafes and restaurants in northern and eastern Paris were "an act of war committed by Daesh that was prepared, organized and planned from outside (of France)" with help from inside France, Hollande said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Earlier on Saturday, Islamic State redistributed a video, that first appeared on the internet a year ago, threatening to attack France if bombings of its fighters continued.

The group's foreign media arm, Al-Hayat Media Centre, made threats through several militants who called on French Muslims to carry out attacks.

"As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear traveling to the market," said one of the militants, identified as Abu Maryam the Frenchman.

Hollande said the attacks were "an act of war".

 

 

View gallery[/size]

A young boy leaves flowers in tribute to victims of Paris attacks outside the French Embassy in Lond …

 

The location of the Islamic State fighters in the video was not clear and it was not possible to determine when it was filmed, but the message was unmistakable.

The fighters, who appeared to be French citizens, sat cross-legged in a group wearing fatigues and holding weapons in what appeared to be a wooded area. The video showed the militants burning passports.

"Indeed you have been ordered to fight the infidel wherever you find him – what are you waiting for?," said Abu Maryam.

"Know that jihad in this time is obligatory on all."

Another militant, identified as Abu Salman the Frenchman, said: "There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit. Even poison is available, so poison the water and food of at least one of the enemies of Allah."

 

 

View gallery[/size]

People warm up under protective thermal blankets as they prepare to board a bus to be evacuated near …

 

"Terrorize them and do not allow them to sleep due to fear and horror," he added.

Foreign fighters who join Islamic State, the group which controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, are seen as especially dangerous because Western passports enable them to live in and travel to Western countries undetected.

Another militant in the video, identified as Abu Osama the Frenchman, appealed to Muslims living in France to head to Syria to wage jihad, in "a message from your French brothers".

"Jihad is the path of Allah You strengthen their economy and pay taxes which they use to fight us, and kill our sister, our women and our children," he said.

"Are you not embarrassed? Repent to your Lord and come join us. Because a day may come when the borders will be closed and you will be left only with tears and regret."

(Additional reporting by Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by John Stonestreet)

http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-paris-attacks-105251415.html

If this is as true as the author of this article says, that is just downright disturbing and disgruntling. : (

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 11/14/2015 at 1:46 PM, Mystics Apprentice said:

If this is as true as the author of this article says, that is just downright disturbing and disgruntling. : (

 

There are several articles saying the same thing but of course we shall wait for more developments and details to get more facts. What's really disturbing is they seem proud of what they have done.

[Aile 273]

Awful, just awful  

[Solstice 749]

  On 11/14/2015 at 1:09 PM, Weedanort said:

You just did  I was following the news from up close when it started, it's really sad to hear something like this happened

I do have a theory, but it would cause a massive flame war.And Lea shouldnt have to clean up after my messes

[Pangoro "Sen" 445]

This is a terrible time for the world right now. If this really is a group other than ISIS, then there's going to be much more trouble from here onward. Hopefully, the U.N. can come together and eliminate this problem for good.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

I've been hesitating to comment on this, because I really didn't know what to say. Saying "this is terrible" and "my heart goes out to those who have died and lost loved ones" feels hollow. I can't even fathom how terrifying this must have been, and how many families have been affected. One hundred and twenty dead, and for what? For some petty political-relgious war waged by hateful people who are a stain on the relgion and culture they claim to fight for. Nevertheless, I truly empathize with those who have been affected, and it truly does bring me great sadness that this has happened.

 

I often consider what it would take to finally rid the world of the majority of these extremists, but I'm becoming more and more certain that there is no good way. Democracy and negotiation will never solve this. If these extremist groups get what they want, they'll just turn on their own people, kill innocents of their own culture and religion for not conforming to their twisted, draconian views. Yet any action against them will only further fuel their desire to create more terror. Any invasion of the countries they are based in will result in the death of the innocent locals, and of many foreign soldiers. Plus, I do not doubt that escalation to all out war would bring forth many internal sympathizers to wreak havoc. Not to mention that the geography of the middle east is quite unforgiving to those who aren't accostumed to it, and would thus put any invading force at a disadvantage. Then of course, even if ISIS and their ilk were completely anhialated, it would likely just be a matter of time before a new organization took their place.

 

I wish I could put this in a more eloquent and sensitive way, but the situation just sucks all around. There's no way to make it stop without innocent people getting caught in the cross fire.

[2 quid is good 2,209]

  On 11/15/2015 at 2:09 AM, DragonMaster said:

I've been hesitating to comment on this, because I really didn't know what to say. Saying "this is terrible" and "my heart goes out to those who have died and lost loved ones" feels hollow. I can't even fathom how terrifying this must have been, and how many families have been affected. One hundred and twenty dead, and for what? For some petty political-relgious war waged by hateful people who are a stain on the relgion and culture they claim to fight for. Nevertheless, I truly empathize with those who have been affected, and it truly does bring me great sadness that this has happened. I often consider what it would take to finally rid the world of the majority of these extremists, but I'm becoming more and more certain that there is no good way. Democracy and negotiation will never solve this. If these extremist groups get what they want, they'll just turn on their own people, kill innocents of their own culture and religion for not conforming to their twisted, draconian views. Yet any action against them will only further fuel their desire to create more terror. Any invasion of the countries they are based in will result in the death of the innocent locals, and of many foreign soldiers. Plus, I do not doubt that escalation to all out war would bring forth many internal sympathizers to wreak havoc. Not to mention that the geography of the middle east is quite unforgiving to those who aren't accostumed to it, and would thus put any invading force at a disadvantage. Then of course, even if ISIS and their ilk were completely anhialated, it would likely just be a matter of time before a new organization took their place. I wish I could put this in a more eloquent and sensitive way, but the situation just sucks all around. There's no way to make it stop without innocent people getting caught in the cross fire.

This is the best post I have seen on this topic on the whole Internet. You actually understand how the Middle East works, and realise that you can't go in guns blazing unlike our esteemed leaders. What the majority of people don't realise is that you cannot wage a war on "terror" because terror is an ideal, an intangible enemy. It's the same as saying " let's wage a war on sadness". What makes it worse is that the all of the enemies that we are fighting because of this war on terror, are ones of our own making. And I'm not an apologist or a sympathiser, nor do I hate America, but we in the western world need to realise where we went wrong all those years ago, and how those wrong actions led to terrible circumstances. DragonMaster is completely right when he said that there is no way to solve this without innocent people getting hurt. America and its allies have already tried that tactic many times over in the decades since WW2 and every time they do the consequences get worse and worse. Al qaeda was nothing compared to isis. The only way these terrorists will win is if they scare you. You don't have to turn your westernness upto 11, you don't have to start slating the Middle Eastern culture and you definitely do not turn on the Muslims in your society. Because that's what they want you to do. All you have to do to beat them is show absolutely no recognition of them, don't show them any acknowledgement, don't share their videos or talk about what they've done. If there was a worldwide agreement to ignore isis everywhere and anywhere, from the traditional media to the internet then there power, which relies on scaremongering would be considerably damaged. If you are waging war on an ideal, use ideals to fight back. This is a very long post and not very well put together, but I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say

[Trece the Xam ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) 3,859]

  On 11/14/2015 at 3:25 PM, Pachirisu said:

I do have a theory, but it would cause a massive flame war.And Lea shouldnt have to clean up after my messes

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who dicides not to say a thing about this for this very reason!

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

I find people trying to say the victims in the western world somehow brought this on themselves to be distasteful and unneeded on this thread that is expressing support for the victims. I think one cannot honestly say this without looking at all the facts and intentions on both sides of this. America gets criticized for doing something about it and it gets criticized for not doing something about it. We cannot win. These terrorists are not victims and their views are distorted and twisted. There is no excuse for this. There is no easy answer or way to solve this but I do not think ignoring them is the answer when they are trying to aim for high carnage and death rates. We cannot ignore mass murder. If anything it risks escalation as they seek the attention they want. Regardless I feel this discussion will only cause drama and is not needed here.

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

All of this makes the Final Judgment sound more appealing to me now. When that time comes, all of the servants of evil will be sent into the pity of smoke and sulfur (as stated in Revelation) and the good will be rewarded with Paradise. A new Heaven and new earth will be made and no evil such as this will ever be seen again.

[Dave 5,715]

After reading far too many knee-jerk, xenophobic reactions on my Facebook feed, I feel that it's worth mentioning that ISIS does not represent the majority of any nation or religion. The fact that two of the attackers were of Syrian descent has led to an unnecessary backlash against both the Syrian refugees as well as Muslims in general. ISIS is made up of radicals from any number of countries (including the United States), and the unfortunate events of Friday does not mean that we should turn away those who are trying to flee from the very radicals responsible for the attacks in Paris. Moreover, Muslim citizens should NOT have to defend their beliefs against racist and xenophobic finger pointing from people either unable or unwilling to recognize that being Muslim does not mean that you are dangerous.

 

What we need now, more than ever, is calm and collected thinking, not hot headed impulses. Terrorism would have us live in fear and distrust of our neighbors, and our best defense against them is to refuse to be afraid of those who need our help, and those who are fellow citizens and friends.

[Alicia Maddox 2,141]

  On 11/15/2015 at 7:41 PM, Flaming Lea said:

I find people trying to say the victims in the western world somehow brought this on themselves to be distasteful and unneeded on this thread that is expressing support for the victims. I think one cannot honestly say this without looking at all the facts and intentions on both sides of this. America gets criticized for doing something about it and it gets criticized for not doing something about it. We cannot win. These terrorists are not victims and their views are distorted and twisted. There is no excuse for this. There is no easy answer or way to solve this but I do not think ignoring them is the answer when they are trying to aim for high carnage and death rates. We cannot ignore mass murder. If anything it risks escalation as they seek the attention they want. Regardless I feel this discussion will only cause drama and is not needed here.

 

 

  On 11/15/2015 at 8:02 PM, KingdomHearts3 said:

All of this makes the Final Judgment sound more appealing to me now. When that time comes, all of the servants of evil will be sent into the pity of smoke and sulfur (as stated in Revelation) and the good will be rewarded with Paradise. A new Heaven and new earth will be made and no evil such as this will ever be seen again.

Amen to both of you!