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At least 140 people are dead tonight after a series of shootings and explosions in Paris.

A Kalashnikov-wielding gunman is thought to have gone on the rampage in the French capital and explosions rang out near the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Gunfire was heard inside a restaurant close to Rue Bichat, in the 10th arrondissement of the city soon after 9pm.

Shouting and screaming also rang out as the shooting began.

Several minutes later more shots were fired at live music venue Bataclan near Place de la Republique which is a short walk away.

Up to 118 people are understood to be held hostage at the venue where Eagles of Death Metal were due to play to a big crowd.

Reports emerging suggest all of them have now been killed. Three terrorists are also reported to have died during a shootout with French police.

A further forty are said to have been killed in a series of attacks in as many as six locations.

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Several people are reported to have been shot outside bars in rue de Charonne and there are reports a fifth and sixth location are under attack at Les Halles, a shopping centre near the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre.

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At the same time as the first reported shooting a number of explosions were heard near the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Some reports suggested one of the explosions was a suicide bomber but details are still unclear.

French president Francois Holland was reported to be among those evacuated as police swooped during the France and Germany football match.

As anti-terrorist police flooded the area, an officer on the scene warned "the gunman is suspected to be still on the loose. People should leave the area."

(Image: Reuters)

One man on Twitter said his friend escaped Bataclan where five or six unmasked shooters fired for about five minutes.

It is reported one of the shooters mentioned Syria as they unleashed rounds on innocents.

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Journalist Erwan Desplanques said: "First of all, confusion, everyone thought it was firecrackers. Then people were lying on the ground."

(Image: Getty)

It is not yet known whether the two incidents are linked but it is being suggested in media outlets that it was some sort of co-ordinated attack.

Journalist Julian Pearce from Europe 1 said this about Bataclan: "Several gunmen came into the concert hall.

"Two or three unmasked individuals came in with automatic Kalachnikov type weapons and started to shoot blindly into the crowd."

He estimated it lasted about 10 to 15 minutes.

"It was extremely violent and there was a wave of panic. The attackers had to recharge three times. The attackers were not masked. They were very young."

One terrified restaurant worker who was near the shooting in Rue Bichat said: "We thought it was fireworks.

"We stayed inside, we waited for police to come and let us out."

(Image: Getty)

The French capital has been on a high state of alert ever since the Charlie Hebdo massacre with security services warning that another attack was always likely.

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The attack on the satirical magazine left 13 people dead, as two Paris-born terrorists slaughtered cartoonists and other members of staff before escaping in a stolen car.

(Image: @StephHannache)

Four Jewish shoppers were also murdered in the same set of attacks inside a Kosher supermarket in nearby Vincennes.

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In September suspcted gunman Ayoub el-Khazzani was knocked unconscious by hero passengers on a high-speed French train after opening fire.

(Image: Getty)

He was bundled to the floor and then pummelled by brave US nationals Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos.

He appeared in court in Paris with his eyes bandaged and in bare feet in September.

Paris journalist Stefan de Vries reported the latest shootings saying: "Paris Shootout Several people killed, several wounded. Area around Place de la République being evacuated."

David Cameron has said he is "shocked" by the unfolding atrocity and vowed the UK will do "whatever we can to help".

The Prime Minister said his "thoughts and prayers" were with the French people as reports of the shootings came through.

Mr Cameron said: "I am shocked by events in Paris tonight.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the attacks were "heinous and immoral".

He said: "My thoughts are with the people of Paris tonight. We stand in solidarity with the French.

"Such acts are heinous and immoral."