The Attacks

From a small café to an athletic stadium, France was hit with one of the worst acts of terrorism in Europe in over a decade. The attacks took place around 9:20 pm local (1:20 pm Pacific time) on Nov. 12, 2015. In total, the attacks killed 129 people and injured over 300. The first attack was launched at a soccer game between French and German teams. Five minutes later, a gunman opened fire at a local café, Le Petit Cambodge, killing 14 people.

At approximately 9:30 local pm (1:30 pm Pacific), more shooting occurred at the Avenue de la Republique pizza restaurant. At the same time, another blast occurred at the stadium where thousands were being evacuated.

Around 9:40 pm local (1:40 pm pacific), however, there was yet another shooting. This shooting took place at Rue de Charonne, a small bar, where 19 people were killed. At 9:49 pm local (1:49 pm Pacific), shots were fired at an Eagles of Death Metal concert. The band’s merchandise manager was one of the victims of that tragic shooting. Though some were lucky enough to escape the concert hall, others were trapped as hostages inside. Sadly, at 9:53 pm local (1:53 pm Pacific), a third explosion detonated outside, killing four people.

The Response

After these devastatingly heartbreaking attacks, the President of France, Francois Hollande declared war. Days after the attack, France sent air strikes into Syria.

“…France is at war. The acts committed Friday are acts of war,” stated the President.

Prosecutors in France have been searching for leads to the attackers. Of the eight suspects, seven are dead. Six of the attackers were killed in the suicide attacks, while the seventh was shot by security. The last suspect, still living, is categorized as extremely dangerous.

The Victims

Among the 129 reported to be dead was a California student, a merchandise manager, and a camera man. Nohemi Gonzalez, the 23-year-old University of California, Long Beach student was studying design, her passion, at the State College of Design in Paris,France.

Nick Alexander, the merchandise manager of the California-based band performing, was sadly killed, too.

Members of the band have commented on Alexander, calling him, “one of the most sweetest people we have worked with.”

Lastly, another victim of this tragic act was Mathieu Hoche, a 37-year-old French camera technician. Hoche worked at an English-language new channel in Paris. The father of a 6-year-old son, Hoche was unfortunately killed at the Bataclan Concert Hall.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Paris, everyone who has been touched by this tragic and heinous act of terrorism.

“There is no path to peace, peace is the path,” Ghandi.