Paris attacks: Hunt for accomplices as 128 killed in France's suicide bombing and shooting horror

France has deployed 1,500 extra soldiers to patrol sensitive sites after a coordinated wave of attacks, including seven suicide bombings, brought what President François Hollande described as "horror" to Paris. Eight attackers were killed by responding authorities overnight and police are now hunting possible accomplices.

In the morning of 14 November, Hollande chaired an extraordinary cabinet meeting with ministers and commanders of the security forces' to discuss a security response to the 13 November massacre. Earlier, the president had already declared a nationwide state of emergency, ordered schools normally open on Saturdays shut, and imposed border controls.

City authorities reported that at least 128 people were killed and 250 were wounded, including 100 in critically, in shootings and explosions at six different locations in the capital, according to Reuters news agency.

Hollande was caught in the violence when three suicide bombers blew themselves up near the Stade de France, in a northern suburb of Paris. France team was playing Germany in a friendly, with the president watching on the stands. The blasts were heard during the televised match. One person and the three attackers were killed, according to initial reports. Hollande was whisked to safety by security forces.

At the same time, gunmen opened fire at three restaurants in the city.

At least 18 people were shot dead as diners at La Belle Equipe restaurant in Rue de Charonne, came under fire. Another 12 people were killed at the Le Petit Cambodge in Rue Alibert, and five at the La Casa Nostra in Rue de la Fontaine au Roi.

Concert hall attack

By far the deadliest incident was a shooting and hostage situation at the 1,500-seat Bataclan theater, which was hosting a sold-out concert by US band Eagles of Death Metal. Several attackers stormed the concert hall and opened fire on the public. A prolonged hostage situation that ensued was broken by police intervention.

Faced by security forces, three attackers detonated explosive belts while a fourth was shot dead, according to Paris police chief Michel Cadot. At least 82 people were killed. All of the band members were accounted for.

"The terrorists, the assassins, sprayed the outsides of several cafes with machine guns and went inside," Cadot said. "So there were victims in terrible and atrocious states in numerous places."

Final suicide bombing

Another attacker blew himself up on the nearby Boulevard Voltaire, according to prosecutor's office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre who added authorities can't rule out some perpetrators are still at large and are looking into possible accomplices.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, they were praised online by sympathisers of the Islamic State (Isis) militant group. Fingers were inevitably pointed at Islamist militants given the nature of the violent action and this year's other deadly Islamist shootings at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and other sites in France.#

Witnesses of the attacks in the concert said that some of the terrorists expressed support for IS and the violence in Syria.

Sylvain, a 38-year-old concert-goer, who escaped the siege at the Bataclan told AP: "I was watching the concert in the pit, in the midst of the mass of the audience. First I heard explosions, and I thought it was firecrackers.

"Very soon I smelled powder, and I understood what was happening. There were shots everywhere, in waves. I lay down on the floor. I saw at least two shooters, but I heard others talk. They cried, 'It's Hollande's fault.' I heard one of the shooters shout, 'Allahu Akbar,'" he added.

Hollande said France needed determination to overcome the crisis.

"A determined France, a united France, a France that joins together and a France that will not allow itself to be staggered even if today, there is infinite emotion faced with this disaster, this tragedy, which is an abomination, because it is barbarism," he said.