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Putting things in context: Terrorism in France

On Friday, November 13, 2015, France witnessed the worst terrorist attack committed inside its territory. France has experienced practically all types of modern manifestations of terrorism: anti-colonialist terrorism in the 1950s; right-wing terrorism in the 1960s; left-wing terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s as well as separatist terrorism in Corsica and Basque regions; and finally Islamic terrorism since the 1990s. While the identity of the Black Friday November 13, 2015 attackers is still under investigation, France has been, over the years, the victim of both international and homegrown terrorism. Already in 2005, the Director of the Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (DST), (now the General Directorate for Internal Security) stated that: “the French jihadi has rougher edges, is younger, but also is more radicalized and engaged than in previous years”.

Overview of the Attack

On Friday, November 13, 2015, six or seven simultaneous terrorist attacks took place throughout Paris. According to various sources, 129 people were killed in the attacks (including 89 in the Bataclan concert hall) and more than 350 were injured. At least 7 terrorists were involved in these “organized multifaceted” attacks which included mass shootings, hostage takings, and suicide attacks. The 7 terrorists were dead after carrying out suicide attacks - the first ones ever on French soil.

Three terrorists detonated their suicide belts and died around the national football stadium, Stade the France, at 21:20, 21:30 and 21:53. Another terrorist exploded at 21:40 in a restaurant on Boulevard Voltaire, injuring several victims, and at least three other terrorists carried out a multiple suicide attack after killing more than 80 people in the Bataclan Concert Hall.