Paris death toll at 129 after terror attacks

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(Updated)

ISIS has claimed responsibility for several co-ordinated attacks across Paris, France that have left at least 127 people dead and the French capital devastated.

The first reports of the massacre that occurred Friday surfaced around 4pm Eastern time. Since then, disturbing first hand accounts have surfaced from witnesses who looked death right in the eye.

French President Francois Hollande met with his top government and security officials Saturday morning after suicide bombers targeted a stadium, concert hall and Friday night cafe crowds in attacks that killed at least 129. He later said the attacks were an “act of war” orchestrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

352 have been hospitalized.  99 people are reported in critical condition.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris says that there are Americans among the injured.  No word on whether there are any Canadians among the dead or injured.

Speaking to the nation Saturday, Hollande said France “will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group.” France “will act by all means anywhere, inside or outside the country.”

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The claim was made in a statement in Arabic and French, was released online Saturday, and circulated by supporters of the group. It was not immediately possible to confirm the authenticity of the statement, but it bore the group’s logo and resembled previous statements issued by the group.

A statement from Queen Elizabeth II said: “We send our most sincere condolences to you, the families of those who have died and the French people.”

A silent vigil is planned for the victims of the Paris attacks at Nathan Philips Square Saturday at 2pm, hosted by the French Consulate in Toronto.

Several tourist attractions such as the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower have been closed.

A police official says that a Syrian passport has been found on the body of one attacker near the Stade de France.

An Air France flight from Amsterdam to Paris was evacuated Saturday morning at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after authorities received a threatening tweet.

Dennis Muller, a Dutch military police spokesman., says Air France flight 1741 was due to take off at 14:45 CET but was evacuated shortly before that.

An Air France spokeswoman said the flight had 85 passengers and six crew members onboard. Police are searching the Airbus A320 now.

A Greek official says one of the assailants in Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris whose Syrian passport was found at the scene crossed into the European Union through the Greek island of Leros in October.

Belgium’s justice minister says authorities have made several arrests linked to the deadly attacks in Paris.

Minister Koen Geens told the VRT network that the arrests came after a car with Belgian license plates was seen close to the Bataclan theater in Paris on Friday night, one of the places where victims were killed.

Prime Minister Trudeau, who along with many other world leaders is scheduled to travel to Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference on November 30th, has arrived in Antalya, Turkey Saturday morning for the G20 summit.

The Foo Fighters are cancelling the rest of their European tour following the deadly attacks.  Foo Fighters, led by Dave Grohl, were to play at the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris on Monday.

The band said in a statement Saturday that “it is with profound sadness and heartfelt concern for everyone in Paris that we have been forced to announce the cancellation of the rest of our tour.”

The band U2 have also cancelled a concert scheduled for Saturday night in Paris.