PARIS, November 14. /TASS/. The French authorities have sent their 1,500-strong unit of servicemen to ensure security in Paris after a large-scale terrorist act occurred in the French capital on Friday evening, the Elysee Palace said after an extraordinary ministerial conference led by President Francois Hollande.
"1,500 servicemen have been additionally mobilized now," the presidential press service said.
Earlier, in his address to the nation, Hollande said the republic’s authorities "mobilized all possible forces to neutralize terrorists and ensure security of all neighborhoods that may be threatened."
"I also demanded a military reinforcement, and it is already in the Paris agglomeration now," he said.
State of emergency enters into force in France
The state of emergency in France entered into force across the country, the Elysee Palace said in a communique after the Council of Ministers’ meeting.
"The decree on introduction of the state of emergency was approved. It takes effect immediately across France," the document says. "The republic’s president also gave an instruction to immediately restore border control."
A separate decree was approved on reinforcing security measures in the Paris region. This will allow the authorities to place under house arrest "any person whose actions could pose danger for society." The talk is about persons on the list of special services, religious extremists etc.
Schools and higher educational establishments will be closed in Paris on Saturday. The measure could also touch upon theaters and concert halls.
The Elysee Palace will host a meeting of the Defense Council at 09:00 a.m. local time.
A series of terrorist acts took place at six various venues in Paris Friday evening with the use of automatic weapons and explosive devices. Over 100 people were killed. Hostages were taken in the Bataclan concert hall where 1,500 people gathered for a rock concert. BFM TV channel reported citing eyewitnesses that terrorists who opened fire in the Bataclan shouted that they were "taking revenge on France for Syria."
The French president declared the state of emergency in the country and closure of state borders.
The UN Security Council decisively condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris and called for bringing those responsible for them to account. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the series of attacks in the French capital.
Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Saturday that accomplices of terrorists who on Friday made the attacks on the city could still be at large.
He said five terrorists, according to preliminary data, took part in the terrorist acts in Paris. Meanwhile, Agence France Presse reported citing sources close to investigation that eight participants of the terrorist attacks were killed.
According to the agency, four attackers died in the Bataclan hall: three activated suicide belts, and one was liquidated by law enforcers. Three suicide bombers activated their belts near the Stade de France stadium. Another terrorist blew himself up near Bataclan, sources said.
Molins said the death toll in the terrorist acts carried out Friday evening in Paris could exceed 120 people.
He said there are confirmed data on the death of overall 38 people at various points in the city close to the Bataclan concert hall where the main tragedy occurred.
"The figures are very serious, as, if we add that to the Bataclan death toll, there unfortunately is a probability that the final death toll will reach or even exceed 120 people," Molins said.