Terror surged in Paris on Friday, Nov. 13, as several coordinated terrorist attacks killed at least 129 people and wounded more than 350 others.
The extremist attacks consisted of mass shootings, suicide bombings and hostage-taking crimes at six different locations. The deadliest onslaught took place in an open fire assault at the Bataclan concert hall where Eagles of Death Metal, an American rock band, was scheduled to play the night of the attack. Hostages were held at the hall, and 100 of the hostages were killed. Seven attackers died amidst their crimes, and one has been recognized to have entered the country as a Syrian refugee.
Four of the seven aggressors died in suicide bombings. Three exploded near the Stade de France, where a friendly soccer match between France and Germany was taking place and President Francois Hollande was attending.
Antoine is an FGCU alumnus since fall 2013 who now lives in Naples, but is originally from Le Mans. Antoine has several family members in Le Mans and loved ones in Paris. “I am relieved that my family and friends are unharmed,” Antoine said. “That is most important to me at this moment.
“What occurred in Paris is very tragic and shocking, especially since the venues where these attacks occurred are known to be quite safe,” Antoine said. “The chaos and fashion these attacks were executed was like a page stripped from The Purge. Tension is still very high, as people profit from the situation by lighting firecrackers in the street and causing further panic.”
Rebecca De Rogatis, a senior international student from France, said her first emotion was worry when she found out about the terrorist attacks.
“Worry about my friends and family in Paris and their safety and whereabouts while the tragic events were taking place,” De Rogatis said. “This is a terrible series of events and it’s so sad to know that this is happening, especially to a country that I hold so dear to my heart.”
De Rogatis is originally from Martinique, but she has friends and family in Paris.
“It’s upsetting to think that I could have been in Paris while this was all going on,” De Rogatis said. “My heart is hurting for my nation and I’m continuing to pray for Paris as a whole and most importantly the families directly affected by the deaths.”
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks and French President Francois Hollande declared that it was an act of war. ISIS said the attacks were the retaliation of various bombings in the Middle East from France since October.
“I think France should reinforce their security so that people feel more safe to go about their day,” De Rogatis said.
Since the attacks, the French air force carried out bombing missions on ISIL targets in Syria that lasted for two consecutive days — Sunday, Nov. 15 and Monday, Nov. 16.
“The questions is, ‘what will we do about it?’ United we stand, divided we fall — if and how we unite is up to each and every one of us,” Antoine said.