Islamic State on Saturday has reportedly claimed responsibility for the co-ordinated shootings and bombings across Paris where at least more than 150 people have been slaughtered in a series of coordinated attacks last night.
It said “eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles” conducted a “blessed attack on… Crusader France.”
France was guilty of “striking Muslims in the caliphate with their aircraft,” referring to its air strikes in Syria which started in September, It added.
According to reports a gunman shouted “it’s for Syria” and “Allahu Akbar” — the Arabic for “God is great” — before killing around 100 music fans at a popular music hall, The Bataclan.
The attacks came after reports of British ISIS butcher Jihadi John was said to have been killed by a US drone strike in Syria.
ISIS suporters are now celebrating the horror attacks using a sick hashtag ‘ParisIsBurning’.
One tweeted “God is great and thank God for these lone wolf attacks. At least 100 hostages and countless wounded.”
Another added: “Oh God, burn Paris as you burned the Muslims in Mali, Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine.”
Some ISIS supporters even boasted Washington DC, Rome and London will be the next targets of terror attacks.
World leaders condemn ‘the work of the devil’
From America to Australia presidents and prime ministers have publicly declared solidarity with the French people.
President Barack Obama described the wicked act as “an attack on all of humanity”.
US secretary, John Kerry, called the attacks “heinous, evil”.
British prime minister, David Cameron, said: “We will do whatever we can to help.”
Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, the foreign minister of Spain warned of possible repeat attacks by jihadists. “All of this confirms that we are facing an unprecedented challenge, a hugely cruel challenge,” he told public television TVE.
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French president Francois Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against terrorism.”
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s new prime minister said: “Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to our French cousins in this dark and terrible time”.
Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said the attacks appeared “to have all the hallmarks of Daesh, of Isil”. He pledges support for the fight against terrorism.
Countries in Asia also voiced anger at the attacks, China’s president, Xi Jinping, spoke of “these tragic times for the French people” and condemned “in the strongest ways this barbarous act”. Beijing would “battle terrorism along with France and the international community”. he added.
Singapore Foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan described the attacks as “a terrible assault on a beautiful city with warm, cheerful, hospitable people”.
“We must not let the terrorists divide us or destroy our spirit. I know the French spirit will prevail.” He added.
Philippines President Benigno Aquino III said “The Philippines and its people stand in solidarity with the people of Paris and all of France, in this time of deepest sorrow and the gravest outrage against the perpetrators of these crimes,”
Aquino considered the attacks as “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in condemnation and grief.”
Images: Paris Terror Attack
