BREAKING: Terrorist attack in Paris

Inititial reports coming out of Paris 

Chaos in Paris as Attackers Kill Scores, 100 Held Hostage

A gunman reportedly opened fire in a Paris restaurant on Friday evening, resulting in several casualties. Explosions were also heard nearby. As many as 40 people have been killed, according to French media

Sputnik,

13 October, 2015

The Associated Press also reports that two explosions were heard near a Paris stadium during the France-Germany football match which may have been caused by grenades. US security officials have said they believe the attacks to be coordinated, and French outlets report that French President Francois Hollande was in the Stade de France at the time of the explosions and has been rushed to a secure location.

City officials have shut down the metro.

The explosion was loud enough to be heard over the cheers of the stadium crowd.

Initial reports indicated that at least four are dead, with another 7 wounded, after a man armed with a Kalashnikov entered a restaurant near Place de la Republique.

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A separate incident may have also occurred in a nearby bar known as the Bataclan, a theater where the band Eagles of Death Metal were scheduled to play. French authorities have evacuated bars and restaurants in the area, and the gunmen are reportedly still at large. CNN reports there may be a hostage situation at the Bataclan location. BBC reports that as many as 100 hostages could be involved.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that some hostages have escaped and described pools of blood as attackers used pump-action shotguns against the crowd. Witnesses say there are between 6 and 8 attackers inside Bataclan who are searching for anyone hiding inside the building. Attackers are also reportedly exchanging gunfire with police.

Witnesses say that one of the gunman screamed "It's for Syria" and "Allahu Akbar," according to French media.

"There were two really loud bangs and they were enormous," one witness told the Telegraph. "I thought it was coming from inside the stadium but someone told me later that they were grenades thrown outside at a restaurant."

President Hollande is currently meeting with top officials in the Interior Ministry, according to AP.

The White House says that President Obama has been updated on the situation, and both British Prime Minister David Cameron and British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have expressed their shock and concern.

The incident comes amid heightened security measures implemented by the French government in preparation of a major global climate conference to be held in the coming weeks.

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Terrorists keep dozens hostage inside Paris concert hall, refuse talks

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General view of the scene with rescue service personnel working near covered bodies outside a restaurant following shooting incidents in Paris, France, November 13, 2015. © Philippe Wojazer / Reuters

At least 60 people have been taken hostage at a concert hall in Paris, local media reports citing police. The hostage situation comes amid chaos caused by shootings and an explosion that killed at least 26 people in the center of the French capital.

The exact number of people taken hostage at the Bataclan concert hall remains unknown. The media has reported varying figures, ranging from 60 to 100 people.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has arrived at the Bataclan concert hall.

A witness called Anna, who heard the shooting at the Bataclan theatre told BFM TV, "initially, it was believed to [be] firecrackers" after hearing the loud bangs.

The concert hall is the latest of four locations targeted by attackers, in the neighboring 11 district.

The local BFM TV station has reported that the one or two people came into the theater’s hall and began shooting in the air.

According to the French news channel, a gunman at Bataclan shouted "It's for Syria" and "Allahu Akbar!" meaning in Arabic "God is [the] greatest".

A Europe 1 journalist, who was inside the Bataclan, said the men were unmasked and carried what he recognized as Kalashnikov type guns.

“The assailants had time to recharge at least three times. They were not masked, masters of themselves. They were very young," the reporter Julian Pearce said, according to the Liberation newspaper.

According to a CNN reporter at the scene, people who managed to flee the theater said that between six and eight shooters inside were killing “one by one” those who remained in the concert hall.

There have been reports of two or three heavily armed individuals attacking police in front of the Bataclan, BFM reported

According to the theater's website, a California rock group Eagles of Death Metal was giving a show tonight