Good evening all and thank you for joining us as we aim to bring some clarity to the reports of shootings and explosions close to the Stade de France sporting venue in Paris.
Tonight the ground played host to France's football friendly with Germany, where French prime minister Francois Hollande was evacuated from the stadium following reports of an explosion nearby.
The reports of other incidents taking place around the French capital led to a helicopter being deployed over the ground. However, the game continued to be played and was eventually concluded after a full 90 minutes of action. Everyone inside the ground was ordered to remain in the stadium, while nobody was allowed to leave.
Some of the public have suggested on Twitter that the sound of the nearby explosion was clearly audible on the television feed of the game. Here is the clip starting to circulate the internet below:
Following the chaos of fans being asked to remain in the stadium, many of them have taken to the pitch in order to presumably find out what exactly is going on in Paris:
Figures have not been confirmed yet, but reports are suggesting that 15-40 people have been killed following a shooting at a restaurant, as well as at the city's Bataclan arts centre. Some sources are suggesting that a hostage situation is taking place at the centre, which is hosting a sold-out concert by American band Eagles of Death Metal .
It is believed that the explosion close to the Stade de France occurred at a bar near to the ground.
Get French Football have recently Tweeted that FFF President Noel Le Graet has claimed that the stadium is now secure and that there is no danger in leaving the venue:
Here is another image of scenes a little earlier at the stadium. Depending on what reports you read, there are suggestions that as many as three explosions could be heard close to the Stade de France:
© AFP
Only earlier today Germany's team hotel was evacuated due to a bomb scare. You can read more on that story
here. Officials in France have stated that they cannot yet verify that all of the shootings and events across the city are interlinked.
It does appear from some Tweets from inside the ground that visitors have started to leave the venue:
Here is another image taken from outside of the Stade de France following reports of up to three explosions being heard close to the stadium. It appears that fans are now making their way away from the ground, which was temporarily under quarantine earlier tonight:
© AFP
We also have some video footage from earlier tonight when a number of fans took to the pitch after hearing of the chaos taking hold at a number of other locations in the French capital:
The French national side are due to travel to face England in another friendly fixture at Wembley Stadium in London on Tuesday. These events may still well have an impact on whether that game goes ahead.
An English person has recently been speaking to Sky News having been in the stadium this evening:
"At the time we thought it sounded like cannons almost, it didn't sound like explosions at all. We thought somebody was out celebrating and it had gone wrong.
"Initially we were all left alone to leave, then suddenly there was a panic. There was a mini stampede, we all just ran back in. Then they put the stadium on lockdown.
"That really was the most terrifying thing. You were seeing parents picking up four and five-year-olds and running."
Here is a Tweet that could bring a little more light in relation to France's scheduled friendly with England on Tuesday:
Another journalist who was inside the stadium watching the game tonight is currently speaking to Sky News. He has stated that people are still continuing to leave the venue. As news comes in from all kinds of sources, it appears that there have been as many as six incidents in Paris this evening with the death toll in the capital thought to be at 40. The French prime minister has declared a state of emergency, as well as the decision to close the country's borders.
Further posts from Get French Football have noted that news outlet AFP have confirmed that at least one of the explosions close to the ground was caused by a suicide bomber.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has said that he has been left "shaken and shocked" following the events, according to
The Mirror.
The same source also notes Germany assistant coach Oliver Bierhoff as stating the following: "There was a big uncertainty, a big fear and a strange mood in the locker room.
"It was noticeable, how shocked the players were. They picked up their phones right away to inform themselves or call home.
"There was a big uncertainty, a big fear and a strange mood in the locker room."
Suggestions on English news channels are stating that the three explosions close to the ground came as a result of two suicide attempts and a bomb used at one of the stadium's gates.
Those reports will probably give some strength to these suggestions from Twitter a little while ago:
The FA have made some comments following tonight's events and they come partially in relation to Tuesday's proposed match with France at Wembley. Here is what an FA spokesperson has had to say:
"It is a very serious and tragic matter. If there is any update on the match on Tuesday we will announce in due course. We will liaise with the French Federation over the weekend.
"The FA sends its deep condolences to the victims of this tragic event but to say anything else would be inappropriate."
French federation president Noel Le Graet has been speaking to L'Equipe not too long ago. He has since informed reporters that the players had been told about the nature of the events after the end of the game.
France has often had very close ties to European neighbours Belgium. Marc Wilmots and his men took on Italy tonight and rose victorious with a 3-1 win. In the wake of the events in France, Wilmots has insisted that he does not want to comment on his match following the situation in Paris. Instead, the coach has had his to say to
L'Equipe:
"I don't want to talk about a football match. It's nothing compared to what's happened in Paris. I am thinking deeply for all French people, it is truly becoming horrible."
Germany lost the fixture earlier tonight. The country's FA has been quick to make clear that football has to take a backseat after events such as these:
Although these reports cannot be confirmed, some suggestions on social media are stating that both squads have been kept inside the ground. As we have seen already, fans have been allowed to leave the stadium.
Forensic specialists have arrived at the Stade de France. A number of incidents are still taking place across the city and the death toll in Paris is expected to rise this evening. A hostage situation is ongoing at a concert venue, while there has been at least one shooting at a restaurant too. These have come at the same time as what is thought to have been three separate explosions taking place at the stadium, with one of those potentially occurring at one of the venue's exits.
© AFP
A lot of the footballing world has responded to this evening's tragic events. French legend Thierry Henry has had this to say:
Joey Barton has also made some comments in relation to the lives lost in Paris:
That is going to be all from me this evening and I hope that some of this coverage has brought a little more understanding to some of the heart-wrenching scenes that we have witnessed. Reports of three deaths due to the explosions near the Stade de France are still to be officially confirmed by more than one source, but we do know that the stadium has been declared secure and fans have been allowed to leave. Thank you again for joining us, take care and goodnight.
