Paris attacks: Bataclan theatre was previously targeted because of pro-Israel events

The Bataclan theatre, where 89 people were killed on Friday, had been previously threatened with attack for hosting pro-Israel events and fundraisers for Israeli police and defence forces. The venue was previously owned by the Jewish Laloux family but had been sold in September.

The theatre had been threatened a number of times between 2007 and 2008 for hosting pro-Israel conferences and in 2011 a member of Jaish Al-Islam (Army of Islam) told French security services: "We had planned an attack against the Bataclan because its owners are Jews."

In 2008, a video was posted online of a number of masked young men approaching the Bataclan and asking to speak to management about the events and fundraisers held there in support of Israel and Israel's border police. In the video they tell people at the door: "Today, it's nice but firm. But you must know that, with all the people we have behind us, we won't be able to contain them for a long time." Afterwards the main speaker tells the camera, "the next time, we won't be here to talk".

Speaking to Channel 2 in Israel, Pascal Laloux said his family sold the Bataclan "in September after 40 years", and some family members had emigrated to Israel. He went on to say that the attack may cause more people to move from France to Israel or other countries.

The Jewish Press said that the last pro-Israeli event held at the Bataclan was a conference last month of "approximately 500 Christian Zionists".

Friday's attack occurred during a concert by the band Eagles of Death Metal. A number of Israeli news sites have noted that the band had recently toured Israel, including playing at Tel Aviv's Barby Club in July.