Bombings kill several outside Stade de France amid multiple attacks in Paris
A day of tragic, horrifying violence in Paris was intertwined with football on Friday, as several people were killed and a dozen seriously injured by suicide bombers outside the Stade de France, while supporters inside the stadium, watching an international friendly between France and Germany, heard the explosions and took refuge on the pitch after the final whistle.
The bombings were part of a series of chilling terrorist attacks across the French capital on Friday evening, which constitute the worst attack on the country since World War II. French police say shootings, and the concurrent bombings, have resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people across six different locations in the city, with bars, restaurants and nightclubs - all heavily populated areas on a Friday evening - targeted.
Per the Associated Press:
Within minutes [of the bombings outside the national stadium], according to Paris police chief Michel Cadot, another group of attackers sprayed cafes outside the concert hall with machine gunfire, then stormed inside and opened fire on the panicked audience. As police closed in, three detonated explosive belts, killing themselves.
As of Saturday afternoon, 352 people were confirmed by the Paris prosecutor to have been injured, with 99 in critical condition in hospital.
Quoting French police, Agence-France Presse claims the majority of the death toll, approximately 100 people, came from a hostage-taking situation at the Bataclan concert hall, where an American rock band, Eagles of Death Metal, was scheduled to perform.
French police confirmed that two suicide attacks and one bombing took place near the Stade de France, where, in the opening half of the fixture between France and Germany, one of two explosions could be heard, triggering a notable reaction from both the players and some 80,000 fans in attendance.
"I thought it was just a firework, then my friends told me what was going on in Paris," one fan inside the stadium was quoted as saying.
The match, however, was played out, and supporters poured onto the pitch after the whistle. Fans were gradually allowed to leave in small groups, with the stadium announcer instructing those in the venue to use only certain exits "due to events outside."
The stadium was empty about one hour after the game.
Related - VIDEO: French supporters sing La Marseillaise after Paris attacks
France manager Didier Deschamps' postmatch news conference was cancelled, though French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet did speak, telling media that the players were informed of the attacks after the match came to an end.
"Yes, at the end of the game," he said. "At halftime we said nothing because we didn't want the public to be disturbed or to create panic in the crowd. At the end of the match I informed the players like I'm informing you."
French president Francois Hollande was in attendance, and was evacuated after the explosions were heard inside the stadium, which is located located in the Saint-Denis commune of the city, on the northern outskirts of Paris.
He immediately went to the Interior Ministry to follow the response to the attacks, and a state of emergency was declared across France, resulting in the country's borders being closed and 1,500 additional military units being deployed.
"There are dozens killed, there are many injured. It is a horror," Hollande said in addressing the nation just ahead of midnight, local time. "Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great and the state authorities must be firm. We will be."
Earlier on Friday, Germany was forced to change its hotel in Paris after a bomb scare at its luxury accommodation.
Related: German team switch hotels after bomb scare
France is set to host Euro 2016, beginning June 10, 2016.