PARIS remains on high alert tonight and in a state of emergency hours after extremists killed and wounded hundreds in unprecedented terror attacks.
The all-clear is yet to be given by police and security services, who are unsure if all terrorists have been accounted for.
At least 127 people are dead and many others injured, including at least one Australian, after the worst violence to affect France since World War Two.
Eight terrorists were killed after the terror attacks that devastated Paris earlier today, one by police, while the others blew themselves up with explosive belts.
The Paris prosecutor’s office had warned that some terrorist’s could still be “at large”. Residents of the French capital have been told to stay indoors as public buildings were closed, amid growing fears that French society would change forever.
Museums, gyms, schools, shops would be closed and citizens would have to get used to a “changed” France.
Director of Liberation Laurent Joffrin told the BBC: “It’s radically new for France...today there will be no shows museums, people will stay at home....People will get used to being very cautious about who’s coming in the cinema, a restaurant, life will change.”
French President Francois Hollande vowed his country would “fight and be merciless” against whoever was responsible for the attacks.
The country had endured “ a horror,” he added.
The majority of the dead were in the Bataclan concert hall where hundreds of people were attending a concert.
There were other attacks throughout the French capital as gunmen opened fire at downtown restaurants and multiple deaths outside the Stade de France where explosions were heard by spectators watching a France versus Germany football match..
No group has claimed responsibility for the atrocity, although French security services are working on the theory that a trained cell of extremists were behind the terror attacks.
However, a 51-year-old man arrested last week after firearms were discovered in his car has been linked to the Paris attacks, reports German media.
Public broadcaster Bayrischer Rundfunk reported Saturday that German authorities informed French officials about the arrest of the man near the German-Austrian border on November 5, although a source was not provided.
Bavarian state police spokesman Ludwig Waldinger confirmed that firearms, explosives and hand grenades had been found, but would give no further details.
Following the event, horrific accounts have emerged of terrified people being picked off “one by one” by the gunman who worked their way through the hall shooting.
French police said at least 80 of the dead were in the concert hall, but there are fears the death toll will get higher.
As many 180 were wounded, including a 19-year-old Australian, Emma Grace Parkinson, it has been confirmed tonight.
Eighty of the injured are believed to be in a critical condition.
Ms Parkinson is from Hobart but is believed to currently live in Germany. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The concert hall, two kilometres from Notre Dame Cathedral, was packed with people watching the Eagles of Death Metal perform.
Eagles of Death Metal - a blues-rock band from California - have worked with music A-listers including Jack Black and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana.
After hours of uncertainty band members have been confirmed as being safe.
CNN reported hostages were texting that they were being killed one by one and were begging for a police raid.
Details have begun to emerge of the moment police stormed into the hall. Three of
militants blew up their explosive vests as police began the raid, while a fourth was hit by police fire and blew up as he fell.
“There was blood everywhere, corpses everywhere. We heard screaming. Everyone was trying to flee,” said Pierre Janaszak, a radio presenter who attended the concert and hid with several others at the venue.
Another reporter said police described the scene inside the concert hall as “carnage”, explaining the attackers tossed explosives on hostages before police arrived.
A witness described the attackers as being “calm, determined” who said nothing but “kept shooting...It was a bloodbath.”
However, there are separate reports that the gunman yelled their assault was “for Syria”.
A French network BFM-TV quoted one concertgoer identified only as Yasmin, who said: “I saw two guys. The biggest one said: ‘What are you doing in Syria? You’re going to pay now.’
Five explosions were heard from outside the concert hall and shooting of automatic gunfire as police entered the building. As police closed in on the attackers, they detonated suicide belts, reportedly resulting in the deaths of four more people.
Earlier police officials reported a shootout attack at a Paris restaurant in the 11th arrondissement of the city and an explosion in nearby bar, causing dozens more to be injured and killed.
Carnage ... Victims are covered with sheets following shooting in Paris. Source: TWITTERSource:Supplied
terror attacksSource:Facebook
A STRING OF CO-ORDINATED ATTACKS
French police confirmed there were two suicide attacks and at least two bombings near Stade de France which could be heard by spectators, including the French president, attending a soccer match between France and Germany. At least three were reported to be killed in the bombings.
A separate shooting at a shopping centre was also reported, shortly after the explosions were heard at the stadium.
Dozens of people were killed as gunman opened fire with automatic weapons on diners at a Cambodian restaurant and a nearby bar in the 11th arrondissement. Witnesses reported seeing bodies lying in the street.
A man said he heard shots ring out, in sharp bursts, for two or three minutes. “I saw several bloody bodies on the ground. I don’t know if they were dead,” he said.
“There was blood everywhere,” said another witness.
French President Francois Hollande has closed the country’s borders and declaring a state of emergency while sending extra troops into the French capital.
It is the first time since the Nazis occupied Paris in 1944 that there has been a curfew in the famous city.
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