The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility on Saturday for attacks that killed 127 people in Paris.
In an official statement, the group said its fighters strapped with suicide bombing belts and carrying machine guns carried out the attacks in various locations in the heart of the capital which were carefully studied.
French President Francois Hollande blamed the Islamic State group for orchestrating the deadliest attacks inflicted on France since World War II and vowed today to strike back without mercy at what he called “an act of war“.
Hollande said at least 127 people died last night in shootings at Paris cafes, suicide bombings near France’s national stadium and a hostage-taking slaughter inside a concert hall.
Speaking after an emergency security meeting to plan his government’s response, Hollande declared three days of national mourning and raised the nation’s security to its highest level.
Hollande blamed the carnage on what he called “a terrorist army, the Islamic State group, a jihadist army, against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: a free country that means something to the whole planet“.
As he spoke, French anti-terror police worked to identify potential accomplices to the attackers known to have committed the attacks.