Many Dead in Attacks in Paris

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Terrorists carried out numerous deadly attacks across Paris, Friday night. The attackers used automatic rifles and explosives in the violence. A French police official told VOA that 67 people are confirmed dead. But, that number is expected to rise.

French police raided the Bataclan theater where terrorists were holding a large number of people. As many as a thousand people had gathered for a rock concert at the theater. A witness inside the hall said the attackers had fired into the crowd repeatedly and reloaded their weapons three times. The witness was able to escape.

President Francois Hollande has declared a state of emergency and closed France's borders. In Washington, President Barack Obama said the United States was ready to help in any way possible. Obama called the coordinated attacks in Paris an "outrageous attempt to terrorize civilians."

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter, "We will do whatever we can do to help." He said he was shocked by the events in Paris and his thoughts and prayers are with the French people.

At the United Nations, a spokesman said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "condemns the despicable terrorist attacks."