PARIS — French President Francois Hollande is vowing a “merciless” response to the multiple terror attacks that rocked the nation on Friday after the barbaric Islamic group ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre that killed over 100 innocents.
The attacks were “committed by a terrorist army, the Islamic State group, a jihadist army, against France, against the values that we defend everywhere in the world, against what we are: A free country that means something to the whole planet,” he said in a televised statement on Saturday.
France “will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group” and “will act by all means anywhere, inside or outside the country,” Hollande continued. “We will lead the fight, and we will be ruthless.”
The French president outlined that he believed the attacks were “planned from the outside” and had help from those already within the country.
As previously reported, the attacks shook at least four locations in Paris, including the Stade de France stadium, Le Bataclan arts center, Le Petit Cambodge restaurant and Le Carillon café. Witnesses at Le Bataclan reported hearing men yelling, “Allahu Akbar” and “This is for Syria!”
129 people were killed in the attacks, and over 300 were injured, some seriously. Seven of the assailants are dead as well, at least one of which died as a suicide bomber.
One of the attackers has been identified as 29-year-old Ismael Omar Mostefai, a French citizen who had been watched for his ties to terror groups. His body was found among the dead at Le Bataclan.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the bloodshed, calling the nation of France the “capital of prostitution and obscenity.”
“Eight brothers, wrapped in explosive belts and armed with machine rifles, targeted sites that were accurately chosen in the heart of the capital of France,” the terror group said in the statement, “including the Stade de France during the match between the Crusader German and French teams, where the fool of France, François Hollande, was present.”
“Let France and those who walk in its path know that they will remain on the top of the list of targets of the Islamic State,” it continued.
But Hollande vowed to wipe terrorism from the face of the earth with the help of France’s allies.
“We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace,” he stated. “France is strong, and even if she is wounded, she will get up always and nothing will hold her down, even if we are feeling the grief now … We will defend ourselves.”
“Even if France is wounded, she will rise,” Hollande declared.
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