'They're killing everyone one-by-one': Bataclan Concert Hall survivor
Horrific details of the siege have been told by victims who were trapped inside the Bataclan during the terror attacks.
Hostages frantically texted their loved ones, begging for a police raid as gunman began killing hostages one-by-one.
Benjamin Cazenoves made two posts to Facebook during the siege. In his post, he describes that he is hurt, and that there are still survivors inside the Bataclan.
In a loose translation, he goes on to say, “They are slaughtering everyone. One-by-one.”
About 20 minutes later, Cazenoves posted again informing his friends and family of his safety.
Three terrorists were killed during the retaking of the Bataclan concert hall where more than 100 people were being held hostage.
The terrorists were wearing explosive belts which they detonated during the retaking of the concert hall.
Julian Pierce, a Europe 1 journalist, was inside the Bataclan concert hall when the attack began.
"I was inside the concert hall when several gunmen returned in full concert," he told his network.
"Two or three individuals unmasked returned with automatic weapons Kalashnikov type and started shooting blindly into the crowd.
"It lasted about ten, fifteen minutes. It was extremely violent and there has been a wave of panic, everyone ran to the scene, there was trampling scenes, I myself was trampled."
He described how he never heard a word from the attackers, partially because of the cries from the hostages.
"The attackers had time to recharge at least three times," he said.
"They were not masked, masters of themselves. They were very young."
Once out via an escape route, Pierce said he was consumed by the grim scenes of corpses laying in pools of blood all around.
"[There were] a dozen corpses on the ground in pools of blood, including a young girl who had two bullet holes that I was able to carry about fifty 50 metres" to give to firefighters, he said.
At least 100 people were taken hostage during the Eagles of Death Metal concert according to local media reports citing police.
The band has since posted to Facebook, confirming that they are still unaware of the whereabouts of their entire crew.
Eyewitness Andrew Smith live tweeted the event. He was staying in an apartment complex immediately behind the Bataclan.
He tweeted: I hear people screaming in the nearby street.
I don't know if their screams are caused by physical or mental anguish. It's awful.
Elizabeth, near the Bataclan, told the Telegraph she could see police and emergency services gathering outside.
Gunmen fired several shots outside the venue around 10 pm.
"It's confusion here. We're told there are hostages inside but we don't know what's happening."
The hostage situation comes amid chaos caused by shootings and an explosion that killed at least 26 people in the centre of the French capital.
Alban, 24, told the Telegraph he saw the gunmen fire at police outside the Bataclan concert venue.
"People were running away and screaming and sirens were going full blast. Police were trying to block some of the streets and it was total panic."
A police source said the security forces fear hostages are being held at several locations.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has arrived outside the Bataclan.
Separately, two explosions took place near the Stade de France stadium, the AP said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the incidents were related, the AP said, citing police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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1,500 Military personnel have flooded the area and have become involved in operations.
The theater is located near the Charlie Hebdo offices, the site of a terror attack in January. It is about a seven minute walk between the two buildings.
The police said “four were killed during the very difficult takeover of the Bataclan”.
Police have reportedly confirmed around 80 people have been shot dead inside the venue.
The hostage-taking was one in a series of six attacks across the French capital.
One police official described "carnage" inside the building, saying the attackers had tossed explosives at the hostages. He said police expected the toll of victims to rise.
Witness reports from the scene described a number of loud explosions followed by a volley of automatic gunfire coming from inside the building as police moved into the venue.
