PARIS (Reuters), Nov 14 – French President Francois Hollande said a state of emergency would be declared across France and national borders shut following a spate of attacks in Paris on Friday evening in which he said dozens were killed. Hollande said in a brief statement on television that a cabinet meeting had been called. A state of emergency will be declared,” Hollande said. “The second measure will be the closure of national borders,” he added.
Dozens of people have lost their lives in a series of apparently coordinated attacks in the French capital on Friday evening. Addressing the nation, President Francois Hollande called on everyone to remain strong and show compassion and unity. There is much to fear, but we must face these fears as a nation that knows how to muster its forces and will confront the terrorists, the president said. In the wake of the unprecedented terrorist attacks, Hollande has ordered the French military to deploy reinforcements in the capital.
It is unclear whether there was a link in any of the violence to terrorism but French media reported that Kalashnikov rifles were involved in the shootings – a favored weapon of militants who have attacked targets in France – and that many rounds were fired. The shootings occurred near the former headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical newspaper where shootings in January traumatized France. The explosion that occurred during a France-Germany soccer match.stadium forced the hasty evacuation of President Franois Hollande.
