Paris terror attack: France says 'we are at war' as it emerges three teams of attackers behind Friday's atrocities

David Cameron says Britain must be braced for casualties with France in lockdown after a series of coordinated terror attacks which killed 129 and injured 352 across Paris on Friday. Follow latest updates

Latest

07:00

Summary at 7AM

French police have identified the first of seven gunmen who killed at least 129 people in a wave of carnage claimed by Isil as the world united in mourning for the atrocity. Here are the key points at 7AM on Sunday morning:

French authorities Saturday named the first attacker as 29-year-old Omar Ismail Mostefai, who was identified from a severed finger found at Bataclan concert hall, scene of the worst of the bloodshed. A second suspect was named by French media as "Abbdulakbak B".

Isil jihadists said they were behind the gun and suicide attacks that left a trail of destruction at a sold-out concert hall, at restaurants and bars, and outside France's Stade de France national stadium.

President Francois Hollande called the coordinated assault on Friday night an "act of war" as the capital's normally bustling streets fell eerily quiet, 10 months after attacks on magazine Charlie Hebdo shocked the nation.

The first British victim has been named as Nick Alexander. It is thought there could be up to five British fatalities, but no confirmation yet.

The investigation widened across Europe, with Belgian police arresting several suspects and German authorities probing a possible link to a man recently found with a car of explosives.

The discovery of a Syrian passport near the body of one attacker has raised suspicions some of the assailants might have entered Europe as part of an influx of people fleeing Syria's civil war.

Video emerged of the moment the firing started - and the gunfire between police and the terrorists at the Bataclan.

The attacks sent shockwaves around the world, with London's Tower Bridge, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and the World Trade Center in New York among the many landmarks lit up in the red, white and blue of the French national flag in a show of solidarity.

US President Barack Obama described the onslaught as "an attack on all of humanity" and an emotional Pope Francis said he was "shaken" by the "inhuman" attacks.

David Cameron said the attacks "suggest a new degree of planning and coordination and a greater ambition for mass casualty attacks".

The attacks, which killed 129 people and wounded 352, including 99 critically, were the first ever suicide bombings on French soil. Unlike those in January, none of the assailants had ever been jailed for terror offences.

Mostefai, born in the poor Paris suburb of Courcouronnes as one of four brothers and two sisters, had eight convictions for petty crimes but had never been imprisoned. Prints found on a finger in the Bataclan matched those in police files. Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said he had came to the authorities' attention in 2010 as having been radicalised but had "never been implicated in a terrorist network or plot".

06:44

Clinton: 'We are at war with violent extremism'

06:41

Iran mourns

Around 100 Iranians held a candlelight vigil in front of the French Embassy in Tehran to mourn the victims of the Paris attacks.

The gathering late on Saturday was reported by the Shargh daily, a reformist newspaper. The paper reported on Sunday that some of those gathered had posted hand-written messages of condolence on nearby walls.

Iran has provided training and other support to forces battling Isil in neighbouring Iraq.

06:27

Syrian passport might be fake

A Syrian passport found near the body of an attacker at the scene of one of the attacks might be fake, one US official has said. The intelligence official told CBS News the passport did not contain the correct numbers for a legitimate Syrian passport and the picture did not match the name.

06:23

Notre Dame to hold special service

Special church services are planned at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and around France in honor of 129 people killed in attacks that terrified the country.

Notre Dame, like other Paris sites, is closed to tourists Sunday but will be open to church-goers coming for services during the day.

A special Mass by Paris Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois will be held at 6:30pm e) for families of victims and survivors, and the church will ring its renowned bells in a special homage.

In a message to parishioners, the cardinal says, "Our country knows the pain of mourning and must face barbarity propagated by fanatical groups."

06:11

The moment the shooting began

Footage has emerged from inside the Bataclan showing the moment the attack started. Gunfire can clearly be heard, but there are no graphic scenes.

06:05

A story of survival

AFP has a good news story about an Italian tourist who had a second lucky escape when he emerged from the bloodiest scene of the Paris attacks with only a slight injury, 30 years after surviving the deadly Heysel stadium disaster in Brussels.

Massimiliano Natalucci's family told Italian newspaper Corriere Adriatico that the 45-year-old had escaped with only scratches on one leg in the Bataclan attack, which left 89 people dead.

A friend who attended the concert by the California rock band Eagles of Death Metal with him was not so lucky, and had to undergo an operation on Saturday after being hit in the shoulder.

"The terrorists were just three metres from them the whole time," Natalucci's father told the paper.

Almost exactly 30 years ago, on May 29, 1985, Natalucci, aged 15, was with his father and uncle at the Heysel stadium in Brussels for the European Cup final when a wall collapsed, killing 39 people.

Then, as on Friday, Natalucci was unhurt.

His sister Federica has a theory about her brother's luck: A kiss from Pope Jean Paul II in Rome when he was eight has protected Natalucci during both disasters.

05:33

Barack Obama lands in Turkey for G20 talks

The US president has arrived in Turkey for talks with world leaders that have taken on new urgency following the attacks in Paris carried out by the Islamic State.

The crisis in Syria, where the Islamic State group has taken root, was already high on the agenda at the G20 meeting. But the violence in Paris that killed at least 127 people will dramatically change the dynamic of the talks in Antalya, Turkey, a seaside resort city just a few hundred miles from the Syrian border.

Mr Obama is scheduled to discuss the terror attacks in a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before beginning broader discussions with Group of 20 leaders.

05:22

Belgian police search for suspects

04:48

Markets brace for hit

Global stocks are set for a short-term sell-off on Monday after the Paris attacks, but analysts said a prolonged economic impact or market reaction was unlikely.

French stocks, particularly those exposed to the country's large tourism sector, are likely to suffer the biggest falls, according to Reuters.

"These Paris terrorist attacks and the larger scale of this attack could have a meaningful negative impact on the travel and tourism sector," said Robert T. Lutts, president and chief investment officer at Cabot Wealth Management in Salem, Massachusetts.

France has the largest number of tourists in the world and the sector accounts for almost 7.5 per cent of GDP.

"Given that France has a big tourism industry there may be some damage to the economy if this leads to a fall in visitors to France, or in tourism in general after the crash of a Russian plane," said Hidenori Suezawa, financial market and fiscal analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities.

04:29

More on Omar Ismail Mostefai

04:05

Australia stands with the French

As Europe sleeps, on the other side of the world Australians are gathering to show solidarity with France. A French flag has been hoisted on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and prayer vigils and memorial services are being held at churches around the country.

03:50

American victim named

An American student on exchange to France has been named as one of the victims of the attacks. Nohemi Gonzalez, 23, was studying design in Paris and was out with friends on Friday night when she was shot.

03:22

Mostefaï's brother says attacks were 'insane'

The older brother of Ismaël Omar Mostefaï, who has been identified as one of the attackers, said he hasn't seen his brother for several years. The man was arrested and placed in custody on Saturday night as police swooped on Mostefai's friends and family and also arrested his father. Mostefaï's older brother attended a police station voluntarily. He told AFP before being taken into custody: "It's crazy, insane. I was in Paris myself last night, I saw what a mess it was."

03:08

Second attacker named

Reports are naming a second attacker as Abbdulakbak B. There are no further details.

02:53

Kuala Lumpur tribute

02:40

Hillary Clinton: World must unite against jihadists

02:36

Mumbai parallels

02:13

Presidential debate focuses on Paris

02:00

2AM summary

01:52

France: We're at war

01:42

Empire State Building in darkness

The iconic New York skyscraper that can usually be seen for miles around is shrouded in darkness tonight:

01:34

Berlin's Brandenburg gate

01:16

US Army American football tribute

01:12

Frenchman charged over Gatwick security alert

01:04

Bush and Hollande - the moment of realisation

00:55

Two young British students are apparently also among the dead

No confirmation yet, but there were apparently two further British victims at the Bataclan massacre.

00:44

Uber adopts Tricolore

00:36

Gunman named

Le Monde has named one of the gunmen as Ismaël Omar Mostefaï - a 29-year-old who lived in Chartres, southwest of Paris.

00:31

"Nothing to kill or die for. And no religion too"

Musician's 'Imagine' tribute draws a crowd near the Bataclan earlier today:

00:26

FBI sends team to Paris

A team of FBI agents will be sent to Paris to hep the investigation, the New York Times reports.

00:25

Bataclan 'had Jewish links'

The Bataclan theatre was, until recently, owned by a Jewish family, leading to some speculation it could have been targeted for that reason, the New York Times reports.

00:10

Tomorrow's British papers

23:39

'Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people'

you never think it will happen to you. It was just a friday night at a rock show. the atmosphere was so happy and...

Posted by Isobel Bowdery on  Saturday, November 14, 2015

23:35

Tomorrow's Liberation front page

23:30

The New Yorker captures the sheer horror of Friday night

23:15

Another victim named

23:11

More detail on the arrest of one of the gunman's family members

23:03

'Made in France' terrorism film postponed

22:58

The shootout at Bataclan

Paris Match has published this footage of the fierce gunfight that took place as police closed in on the terrorists at the Bataclan theatre:

22:55

Parisian hospitality, by a CNN journalist

22:51

London shows its support

22:34

Incredible montage of tributes around the world

22:25

'Bomb threat' in Cologne

Unconfirmed Twitter reports of an Isil-linked bomb threat in Cologne:

22:23

Trump bangs the drum

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said the terror attacks in Paris would have been "a much, much different situation" had the victims been armed with guns.

And he says the United States is "insane" to accept any refugees from Syria in the wake of the attacks.

22:13

Impromptu vigil at Place de la Republique

A crowd of up to 250 people have gathered for an impromptu candlelight vigil at the Place de La Republique in Paris, the site of a massive demonstration in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo killings earlier this year.

Adrien Chambel, a 27-year-old law student, says the crowd is much sparser than it was in January. He says "you feel that people are petrified."

His father, Bernard, 66, said there is a difference between the attacks Friday night that killed 129 people and the January assault on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a Kosher supermarket that killed 17 victims.

He says in January "it was an attack on Jews, it was an attack on free expression."

This, he said, "was an attack on a way of life - they shot without discrimination."

22:09

Suspect's family members arrested

The father and brother of one of the Paris attackers have been placed in custody.

22:07

Theresa May to chair COBR meeting

Home Secretary will chair a Government COBR meeting on Sunday morning following the Paris terror attacks.

22:00

Bullet holes in The Belle Equipe restaurant window

21:48

Marine Le Pen 'French government soft on security'

21:42

Five-year-old girl learns to spell 'liberté'

21:31

Two of the terrorists 'passed through Greece'

A second suspected Paris terrorist 'very likely' to have passed through Greece, Greek government sources have said.

21:23

La Marseillaise rings out around Trafalgar Square

21:19

False alarm

French interior ministry says the Pullman Hotel incident was a false alert.

The incident highlights how tense Paris is at the moment.

21:17

Dozens of heavily armed police at the Pullman

21:12

Police going room to room at Pullman Hotel

21:02

Metro shut

The Champs de Mars metro station has been shut. It is not clear if this is linked to the ongoing police operation at the Pullman hotel.

20:55

Area around Eiffel Tower evacuated

The area around the Eiffel Tower has been evacuated as police surround the Pullman Hotel.

20:51

Thousands gather in Trafalgar Square

20:49

Breaking news

Heavily armed police have converged on the Pullman hotel, near the Eiffel Tower.

20:48

Support from Ireland

Here is some footage from earlier today as thousands march through Dublin to offer their support - some singing La Marseillaise. The French embassy gave an estimate of around 6,000 attendees.

20:40

White House: no reason to contradict assessment Isil behind attack

There is no information to contradict the French government's initial assessment that the Islamic State was behind attacks in Paris that killed 129 and injured many more, the White House has said.

"The team reviewed the intelligence picture, noting that we had no information to contradict the initial French assessment of Isil's responsibility," the White House said in a statement after President Barack Obama met with his National Security Council.

It added that while there was no specific or credible threat to the United States, officials had reviewed their "homeland security posture."

20:30

Remembering the dead

20:21

Moscow hotel evacuated

At least 900 people have been evacuated from the Hotel Cosmos in Moscow following a bomb threat.

"The hotel is being evacuated following a telephone call about a bomb. 900 people have already left the building," a police source told RIA Novosti.

20:20

Vigils around the world

20:16

How did the attacks unfold?

Interactive: Paris attacks updated

20:12

France's unwinnable war

Peter Foster, our Europe Editor, has been speaking to leading French terror analysts about why France is losing its war on terror.

They point to three key factors: France's population of indigenous disaffected Muslims, Europe's open borders that allow free movement of guns and terrorists, and France's status as Isil's number one terror target in Europe for its role in Syria and Mali.

The result is that France's intelligence agencies are being overwhelmed. The arithmetic is stark: France is estimated to have 2,000 citizens involved in Syrian and Iraq jihadi networks and a further 3,800 individuals known to domestic intelligence services as “radicalised”, all watched over by just 3,200 intelligence officers.

“The services are overwhelmed,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, head of the Paris-based Centre for the Analysis of Terrorism, “when you consider it takes 25 officers to provide round-the-clock surveillance on one individual, you can see the difficulty.”

20:05

The Met sings La Marseillaise

New York's Metropolitan Opera Chorus added its impressive voice to the pledges of solidarity. Placido Domingo conducted the orchestra in a performance of the French national anthem before this afternoon's matinee of Tosca.

20:02

The scene today

19:59

'If you hide at home, the terrorists have won'

While the Eiffel Tower is dark tonight, many Parisians are trying to show that life goes on. David Chazan is near the scene of the main attack at the Bataclan:

A surprising number of Parisians are at cafes and bars tonight in the area near the deadliest attack on the Bataclan concert hall. It is not as busy as usual, but many people are determined to go out as normal. "If you hide at home, the terrorists have won," said Jean-Yves Lemoine, 43, dining at a local restaurant with his wife. People lit candles and left flowers and messages for the dead outside the Bataclan while others stood in silence. "We will not forget you," one message read.

19:52

Eiffel Tower goes dark

19:35

'Everyone was thinking: if I move I'm dead'

19:23

Nick Alexander named as dead Briton

19:14

American student named

19:09

Where they died

The breakdown of the dead - as far as we can tell with the death toll expected to rise - is as follows:

• Stade de France - 1

• Carillon/Cambodge - 15

• Casa Nostra - 5

• Belle Equippe - 19

• Bataclan - 89

18:54

Summary of today's events

• French police have said that 129 have died, and 352 injured, of whom 99 are critical

One Briton is confirmed to have died and "a handful" of others are feared to have been killed, a government source said. In total, about five British people are feared to have lost their lives in the attack.

• Three people have been arrested in Belgium this afternoon in relation to the attacks

• One the of the attackers, who was a 30-year-old French national, came from Courcouronnes, a suburb south of Paris. He was on a government terrorism watchlist and his identity was confirmed by his fingerprints

• It emerged that terrorists shot at people in wheelchairs at the Bataclan concert hall. A British man is feared to have died in the arms of a close friend there

Isil released a message claiming responsibility, saying that France will remain a top target as long as it continues its policies, and it was targeting the capital of "prostitution and obscenity"

• Francois Hollande condemned a "planned act of war" by "Isil barbarians" and declared three days of mourning after the "cowardly" attack

A Syrian passport found at the Stade de France bomb scene was used to claim asylum in Greece in October. It is not confirmed whether it belonged one of the bombers. Also found at the scene was an Egyptian passport

A French man has been arrested on suspicion of firearm offences at Gatwick Airport today, but there was no suggestion it was linked to terrorism. Passengers were evacuated out of Gatwick's North Terminal after a man was acting suspiciously and a firearm was discovered. Its viability has not been established

• Jeremy Corbyn described the attacks as "horrific and immoral"

• France's interior minister has authorized local authorities to impose curfews if needed and people across France were urged to stay at home. Parisians rushed to donate blood and many across the world took part in vigils

18:51

Lighting up London

18:47

Strike targets Isil leader in Libya

A senior American official says a US airstrike has targeted and likely killed a senior Isil leader in Libya.

The official says the airstrike struck a command and control center near the eastern port city of Derna and probably killed Abu Nabil and others with him. Officials are still assessing the results of the strike but called Nabil's death strongly probable.

The official says the strike by an F-15 fighter jet took place shortly after the Paris terrorist attacks were under way, but had been planned for some time. The aircraft were in the air when the attacks began in France.

The official was not authorised to discuss the strike publicly and spoke anonymously, reported AP.

18:40

Belgian investigation

Belgian prosecutors have opened an anti-terrorist investigation centred on a car that had been hired in Belgium and was found near the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It also confirmed police had made several arrests in an ongoing operation in a district of Brussels.

18:32

Colours of solidarity

18:30

Three terrorist teams

Francois Molins, the Paris prosecutor, said a black Polo parked in front of the Bataclan concert hall just before the attacks. This is where the largest loss of life occurred, he said, with 89 people killed. Three terrorists died. One was shot by police and two detonated suicide vests.

He said three "terrorist teams" were involved in the attacks.

18:23

Death toll reaches 129

Francois Molins, the Paris prosecutor, is giving a press conference with the latest details from Franch police. He now says 129 people were killed in the Paris terror attacks and 352 people were injured.

He says 99 of the injured are in critical condition.

He also confirms reports that attackers at the concert hall evoked Syria and Iraq

18:20

Target was a British haunt

18:00

One Briton confirmed to have died, others feared killed

Tim Ross, senior political correspondent, writes:

One Briton is confirmed to have died and "a handful" of others are feared to have been killed, a government source said. In total, about five British people are feared to have lost their lives in the attack.

The Government source said: “The picture is still unclear. We know of one death already, we fear there may be a handful of British fatalities and about the same number are being treated for their injuries in hospital.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected and we are doing everything we can to support them at this tragic time.”

David Cameron earlier warned that the UK should "be prepared for a number of British casualties" as he told the French people: "Your fight is our fight."

17:47

Belgium and terrorism

17:43

Attacker was found with suicide vest at Stade de France

Wall Street Journal reports that one of the attackers had a ticket to the football game and attempted to enter the Stade de France last night when he was discovered wearing a suicide vest.

The guard, named Zouheir, said the attacker backed away and detonated the vest.

One other person detonated their vest outside the stadium, and another blew up their explosives at McDonald's.

17:30

How did last night unfold?

Interactive: Paris attacks SVG

17:24

Tower Bridge lit up in the French Tricolore

17:03

Three arrests made in Brussels

16:55

EU: we will face the threat of terrorism with all necessary means

Tim Ross writes that the European Union's national leaders have released a "remarkable" joint statement, pledging to face the threat of terrorism with "all necessary means".

"The European Union is deeply shocked and in mourning after the terrorist attacks in Paris. It is an attack against us all. We will face this threat together with all necessary means and ruthless determination.

"France is a great and strong nation. Its values of liberty, equality and fraternity inspired and inspire the European Union.

"Today we stand united with the French people and the Government of France. This shameful act of terrorism will only achieve the opposite of its purpose, which was to divide, frighten, and sow hatred.

"Good is stronger than evil. Everything that can be done at European level to make France safe will be done. We will do what is necessary to defeat extremism, terrorism and hatred.

"We Europeans will all remember November 13th 2015 as a European day of mourning. All Europeans are invited to join in one minute of silence in memory of the victims at noon on Monday, November 16th."

16:44

Special forces deployed on Britain's streets this weekend

16:26

Syrian passport found at bomb scene was used to claim asylum in Greece

According to the Greek Public Order Minister Dimitris Toskas, the attacker found at the Stade de France who was found with a Syrian passport passed through the Greek island of Leros.

This happened in early October, under EU rules which mean migrants passing through must identify themselves.

It has not been confirmed that the holder of the passport was the attacker.

16:21

Scenes from this afternoon

16:15

Germanwings disaster volunteers were at the Stade de France during attack

More than a thousand volunteers who intervened after the Germanwings jet crash were among those trapped inside the Stade de France by Friday's attacks, dashing efforts to reward their role in tackling another harrowing event.

Reuters reports that among the crowd were 1,200 emergency workers and volunteers brought in by chartered train by Germany's Lufthansa, owner of the Germanwings jet that crashed into the Alps in March.

"It was supposed to be an evening of French and German celebration and appreciation after that tragic event," Airbus communications chief Rainer Ohler, who was in the stadium with the planemaker's chief executive Tom Enders, said of the match.

"We heard the explosions and at first nobody thought of terrorism. It was only when President Hollande left and people started getting phone messages that we realised what was going on," he told Reuters in Dubai by telephone.

16:09

Video shows mysterious figure in Bataclan concert hall

Video has emerged from the Bataclan concert hall which shows a mysterious figure dressed all in black and carrying a backpack.

The footage was captured by Tuesday Cross who is the girlfriend of Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes.

It was reportedly captured moments before gunmen started firing shots at the concert hall

16:06

Police raids in Brussels

Belgian TV station RTL is reporting that police raided up to three addresses in the Molenbeek district Brussels neighbourhood and arrested one man in connection with the Paris attacks.

RTL reports that three of the terrorists in the Paris attacks came from Molenbeek, the area of Brussels which police have raided this afternoon and arrested one man.

Reuters reported that one the of the attackers, who was French, came from Courcouronnes, a suburb south of Paris.

At least one of the suspects, believed to have blown himself up inside the Bataclan concert hall, was a young Frenchman who was known to intelligence services.

However, reports suggested two of the attackers were Belgian, while Egyptian and Syrian passports were found next to the bodies of two other bombers.

A witness indicated to Le Monde that he saw two black cars, of which one carried a Belgian number plate.

16:01

Frenchman arrested at London Gatwick airport with weapon

A French man has been arrested on suspicion of firearm offences at Gatwick Airport today, but there is no suggestion it is linked to terrorism.

The 41-year-old from Vendôme had not checked in or passed through any security checks and is being interviewed by police.

Detective Superintendent Nick May from Sussex Police said: "The man is being interviewed as we try to determine the circumstances of the incident, but at this time it is too early to say what his intentions, if any, were.

"However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness.

"We are aware that there is concern about what has happened in France, but the general threat level remains the same and people should be aware as usual of anyone acting suspiciously and report any concerns immediately."

Passengers who were evacuated out of Gatwick's North Terminal today are to be let back into the airport.

"Police were called at around 9.30am following suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item in a bin at the airport. Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists were called to the airport to investigate the item and carried out a small controlled explosion.

"Personal items and what appears to be a firearm were recovered and have been removed for forensic examination. However, the viability of the weapon has yet to be established.

15:56

"A small number" of Britons may be caught up in attack

Ministers fear a "small number" of British citizens have been caught up in the attack, Downing St said.

The Foreign Office has received 400 calls overnight from people concerned about friends and relatives.

Number 10 have provided a full update on this morning's Cobra emergency meeting. David Cameron chaired the meeting, which was attended by Theresa May, George Osborne, other senior ministers, and senior representatives of MI5 and MI6.

The Foreign Secretary and the first ministers of Scotland and Wales joined the meeting via a secure communications link.

British security arrangements have been stepped up. Contingency plans for dealing with an attack like that in Paris are also being urgently reviewed, Number 10 said.

15:49

Train crash in eastern France kills five

15:36

Jean Julien on the image of the attacks

15:30

British man feared to have died in the arms of his friend, as it emerges terrorists shot at disabled

15:25

British feared missing at Bataclan

British fans attending the concert at Bataclan last night are feared missing. Between 10 and 15 members of an underground fan group called The Queens of the Stone Age Family are believed to have attended the concert, according to fan group administrator Nicholas Traill.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Traill said: "I am trying to establish exactly how many of our members were there. So far I think the number is 10-15, but I fear it may have been many more."

Among the Britons at the concert were Mariesha Jack and Christine Tudhope, two friends from Glasgow who reportedly escaped the bullets by hiding in a cellar for three hours. Last night Ms Tudhope, 35, posted a message on her Facebook page to reassure her loved ones, saying: "Thanks for your concern everyone both Mariesha Jack and me are out and safe xxx"

15:16

Paris is quiet this evening

Camilla Turner writes: The streets of Paris seem quiet. Many shops and cafes remain closed with their shutters down - not what you would expect for a Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a crowd is gathering at Place de Republique, on the border of the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements - despite calls not to assemble in public.

This square and the monument at its centre became a rallying point in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks earlier this year, with Parisians leaving floral tributes and messages of solidarity for the victims. It was also where the Je Suis Charlie march began.

14:58

Gatwick's North Terminal remains closed after security alert

14:53

More from last night

14:46

"It's terrifying becuase it is just random"

Lexi Finnigan in Paris writes:

Quentin, 27, who works for an online company in Paris, said his oldest friend was shot multiple times at Bataclan last night.

He said: "My friend Thierry posted a picture of himself on Facebook with the lead singer of the band around two hours before the attack happened.

"When I saw on the news that the Bataclan had been targeted, I started freaking out. Soon after I got a call from my other friend who had also been at the concert telling me Thierry had been shot in the leg and also in the back. There were others there who had been sprayed with bullets.

"Thierry is now in hospital and is being operated on - it's very serious."

Quentin added: "It's so shocking. When Charlie Hebdo happened, it was a specific, targeted attack. But this time it's terrifying because it is just random, innocent people going about their lives.

"I know a lot of people in Paris - there is panic and disorder here, no one can understand what's going on. We are all in a state of complete shock."

14:31

Corbyn writes letter to Hollande

14:23

Attackers had Syrian, Egyptian and French passports

A journalist from Liberation reports that the attackers had Syrian and Egyptian passports on them, and that at least one of the attackers was a Frenchman known to authorities an on what is called a 'Fiche S', a watchlist of the security services. Ayoub El-Khazzani, the foiled attacker on the TGV, was also on one.

Police sources have also confirmed that one of the attackers at the Bataclan was a Frenchman.

Paris officials say that 127 people are thought to have died, with 300 hospitalised, of whom 80 in 'critical' condition.

13:57

What does the attack mean for the future of Europe?

13:50

Jeremy Corbyn condemns "horrific and immoral" attack

13:45

Gatwick's North Terminal has flights suspended

Lyndsey Telford is at Gatwick Airport where she reports that North Terminal is still evacuated.

Flights departing from the North Terminal, where a man was arrested after a suspicious item was found, have been suspended. Entrance to the terminal is cordoned off with a small police presence.

Hundreds of confused and frustrated passengers have formed a winding queue unsure of whether their flights will depart at all. Passengers arriving on flights into the airport have described scenes of "chaos" and "mayhem".

Alex Pollock arrived this morning on a flight from Bordeaux into the North Terminal. He said: "As soon as we got off the plane, we were met by Border Force security guys who told us the area had been evacuated and we had to get as far away from the North Terminal as possible".

He said staff at Gatwick seemed to have "no idea" about the security alert. "It's been absolutely chaotic, which has made the whole experience all the more unnerving."

Separately, passengers trying to leave Gatwick have been told public transport was in "lockdown", but it is understood trains are in fact arriving and departing from the airport

13:31

Suicide bomber identified by his fingerprints and was known to authorities

13:23

Dispatch from Paris in mourning

13:17

Car wanted, as demos banned in Paris

French police have put out an alert for a car wanted in connection with the attacks yesterday. Members of the public are urged not to approach the vehicle.

France's interior minister has authorized local authorities to impose curfews if needed after the deadliest attacks in the country since the Second World War.

Bernard Cazeneuve said in a televised address that authorities are also banning all public demonstrations until Thursday.

Cazeneuve laid out increased security measures across the country, including thousands more troops and police and special protection for certain public buildings.

13:10

A Briton is feared dead

12:55

Dispatches from Paris

12:48

Incident in eastern Paris a false alarm

Previous reports of gunfire, with police helicopters in the sky, turned out to be firecrackers for a wedding according to a Le Parisien journalist.

12:44

Lord Mayor's show cancels fireworks

Organisers of annual Lord Mayor’s show in London cancel planned fireworks display and will instead light up Tower Bridge with the French Tricolor out of respect to the victims of the Paris attacks.

“It is time for a show of solidarity with the victims of an atrocious terrorist attack and not a time for celebrations,” they said.

12:26

New reports of explosions and gunfire

There are unconfirmed reports on Twitter of more explosions and gunfire in Bagnolet, an eastern suburb of Paris. There are also helicopters in the area and police are warning people not to go outside

It is thought that this might be a police operation.

12:09

Cameron: "we must be prepared for a number of British casualties"

12:07

Syrian passport found on body of suicide bomber

AP is reporting that two French police officials say a Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the suicide bombers who targeted France's national soccer stadium.

Meanwhile, Bavaria's state premier Horst Seehofer that there was "reason to believe" that a man arrested last week with several weapons in southern Germany was linked to attackers who killed more than 128 people in Paris.

But he could not confirm the link with the attacks in Paris, nor would German police.

Police had arrested a man during a routine check on a motorway, saying "many machine guns, revolvers and explosives" were found in the suspect's vehicle.

12:05

David Cameron tweets in solidarity with French

12:04

Man arrested at Gatwick after evacuation

Police have confirmed that bomb disposal experts were called to the airport and a man was arrested after he apparently discarded an item at Gatwick.

Detective Superintendent Nick May told the Crawley News: "At this time, we are investigating the circumstances of the incident and it is too early to say what the item may be.

"However, given the events in Paris on Friday evening, there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness

11:57

Memories of terror echo in Moscow

11:43

Blood spatter and human flesh on the streets

11:31

The scenes at hospitals in Paris

10:52

Islamic State claims responsibility for attack in Paris

10:32

Gatwick Airport evacuated

Breaking news - Gatwick Airport North Terminal has been evacuated - no reason has been given as to why yet.

Sussex police have confirmed a suspicious article was found at Gatwick's north terminal. A spokeswoman said: "We are still investigating. The terminal is being evacuated as a precaution."

Hundreds of passengers are currently waiting outside under bus shelters.

Ozay Booth, a 23-year-old web designer, was planning on visiting his Grandma in Mallorca before the evacuation.

He said: "We were in the airport and then all of a sudden police started running and shouting 'everyone get out, get out'.

"It was terrifying! Particularly after everything that happened yesterday.

"They've put us all under a bus shelter but no-one's telling us anything. There must be 500 of us here but we don't know what's going on, it's awful."

10:30

Doctor: "Charlie Hebdo was pretty easy to manage compare to this"

10:25

"New York is Paris"

10:12

Analysis of last night's attacks

09:59

French president blames Islamic State group for Paris attacks

09:51

Was the attack carried out by Isil?

There are reports on social media that Isil have claimed responsibility for the attacks, but as yet there has been no statement has been put out on any official channels.

Some Isil-affiliated accounts have been celebrating the events.

David Chazan in Paris reports that investigators are trying to identify the DNA of the eight attackers who died to see if it matches that of individuals with criminal records on the police database.

German media have reported that an arrest has been made in Bavaria tied to Paris attacks, but police decline to confirm the two are linked.

German media reported Saturday that a 51-year-old man arrested last week after weapons were discovered in his car has been linked to the Paris attacks.

A spokesman for Bavarian state police confirmed that firearms, explosives and hand grenades had been found when undercover police stopped the suspect near the German-Austrian border on Nov. 5.

"He has refused to say what he planned to do or where the weapons came from," Ludwig Waldinger told The Associated Press. "We are providing no further information at this point."

French news site le JDD has worked out the chronology of attacks that took place yesterday evening.

09:24

Attacks shed light on black market in illegal weapons

09:21

Blood donation

Parisians are being urged to give blood as hospitals are running out.

The website has broken due to the sheer number of people trying to access it.

UPDATE: The adjunct-mayor of Paris in charge of health has tweeted that there is no urgent need for blood, and has asked for people to stay away from hospitals.

09:07

Paris' Jewish community learns of attack after Shabbat

09:00

Officials: 128 killed, 99 people critically injured

Reuters reports that French officials have put the provisional death toll at 128 people from the combined attacks, with 180 injured, with 99 people in hospital in critical condition.

08:58

Video shows people running from Bataclan

A terrifying video was taken by a Le Monde journalist whose apartment overlooks the emergency exit to the Bataclan concert hall.

The sound of gunfire can be heard, and it shows dead bodies, including one man dragging a body down the street, away from the attacker.

Daniel Psenny, the journalist who filmed, was shot as he went to help. He said: "Sometimes there are evacuations [in the past], but everyone was running out from all directions. I saw people on the floor, and blood... I understood then that it was something serious. I asked passersby what was happening. Everyone was running toward the Rue Amelot or the boulevard Voiltaire.

"A woman was clinging to the window of the Bataclan, on the second floor. I thought of those images from September 11.

"I then went downstairs to open the door to my apartment so people could come in to take refuge, and so I opened the door of the building. There was a man lying on the pavement, and an another man whom I did not see again, he was shot as he was trying to take shelter in the lobby.

"That’s the moment I took a bullet. I don’t remember much after that, I have a blank, but I remember feeling like a firecracker had exploded in my left arm and it was pissing blood. I think the shooter was at the window of the Bataclan. I went up to some neighbours on the fourth floor.

"The guy we did get in [to the apartment] was shot in the leg. He was an American. He vomited, he was cold and we thought he was going to die. We called the emergency services but we could not leave. I called a friend who is a doctor and he explained how to make a tourniquet with my shirt. We were stuck in the apartment until the police raid occurred and they came to find us."

08:49

The missing

In the frantic search for missing loved ones, friends and relatives are turning to Twitter and other social media.

Clara R posted on twitter this morning a photograph of her friends Marie and Mathias, who she said were at the Bataclan nightclub where gunmen murdered more than 100 people

People are using the hashtag #RechercheParis to find loved ones, and are being asked to report missing people here.

08:34

World reaction to the attacks

08:28

COBRA meeting to be held at 10am

The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee shortly after 10am.

He will be briefed on the events in Paris and updated on the latest assessment of the terror threat to Britain.

Ministers and officials from the Home Office, Foreign Office, and Ministry of Defence are expected to attend the meeting, along with senior police and officers from MI5 and MI6.

08:24

Are there attackers still on the loose?

08:19

Shops opening despite advise to stay home

08:11

UK terror threat level may be raised

08:07

French government meeting

08:01

Attackers appeared to be French-born

07:53

The front pages in France

"This time it's war," writes Le Parisien, the French capital's daily, on its front page:

Le Figaro, the national conservative daily, had a similar front, with: "War in central Paris".

Libération, the left-leaning daily, headlines with "Carnage in Paris" calling the attacks "unprecedented".

07:46

Are the attacks over?

A journalist for French news organisation RFI has posed the question - are the attacks over? He reminds us that there has been no official claim of responsibility yet, which might indicate there is more to come.

07:43

Paris coming to life

07:23

The mourning begins in Paris

07:17

Pope speaks out on the attacks

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican's chief spokesman, said:

"Here in the Vatican we are following the terrible news from Paris.

"We are shocked by this new manifestation of maddening, terrorist violence and hatred which we condemn in the most radical way together with the Pope and all those who love peace. We pray for the victims and the wounded, and for all the French people.

"This is an attack on peace for all humanity, and it requires a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us as we counter the spread (of) homicidal hatred in all of its forms."

07:15

Forensic teams already at work

07:13

In the 11ème

07:09

Paris doctor: "it was a nightmare"

Philippe Juvin, the A&E director at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital in paris told French Inter that he had seen a night of nightmare where they have received over 50 badly injured people.

"I've never seen anything like this. There are no words. It was a night of nightmare.

"Lots of people from our team have come in spontaneously to help.

"We have mostly seen people wounded by gunfire, and also people are psychologically traumsatised.

"The priority is to heal these people, to save them. The rest, we will see tomorrow."

06:55

Security stepped up in USA

06:45

"A very young face, determined"

One person who was at the Bataclan concert venue said: "I saw one of the assailants, very young, a young face, determined, scary.

""I looked at the pit: dozens of bodies tangled in a pool of blood, riddled with bullets."

06:36

Scenes from overnight

06:26

Travel Q & A

Is it safe to travel?

The huge security presence probably means that it is as safe as it can be, though there are likely to be delays at airports and on Eurostar because of this extra security. Border control checks have also been implemented at all entry points into France.

The Foreign Office has issued advice advising British nationals to exercise caution in public places and follow the advice of the local authorities. French Government advice to those in Paris is currently to stay indoors, though this seems likely to change soon.

According to the FCO 11 stations on Paris Metro lines 3,5,8,9 will be closed today along with bus services crossing the 10th and 11th arrondissements.

What is happening with the Eurostar and airlines?

Eurostar is planning to run services as scheduled, though there may be delays. It is offering free exchanges to all customers who choose not to travel today.

If you would like to exchange your ticket call Eurostar on 03432 186 186 between 9am and 5pm. It has extended minimum check in time from 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day and asks passengers to check Eurostar.com for further updates before travelling.

BA has said that flights are operating but may be subject to delay because of enhanced security and that "any customers who do not wish to travel to Paris today, Saturday November 14, will be able to delay their flight to another day in the next two weeks (up to November 28)." See BA.com for more information.

Can I cancel my trip, or return home early?

You can, but you will have to pay any extra costs you incur. Travel companies are not obliged to offer free cancellation or repatriation unless the FCO advises against travel - though some are doing so for outbound travel to Paris today only.

And you are normally liable to honour any hotel bookings unless there is s free cancellation clause. Some hotels may allow you to postpone your booking to another time however.

Will my travel insurance cover any losses if I don't travel?

Not usually. Travel insurance normally excludes costs associated with terrorist action.

06:09

Bataclan: police cordons and tarpaulins

06:00

Summary at 6am