In just ten months after the deadly terrorist attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, Paris has once again been victimized by worldwide terrorism. In six obviously coordinated attacks, these cowards have killed one hundred twenty-seven innocent people, with more than three hundred injured, some in critical condition. The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.
The worst of the attacks occurred in a concert hall where an American rock band was performing. At least three gunmen entered the concert hall and systematically and mercilessly fired into the crowd of mainly young people. Witnesses noted that the gunmen wore heavy-looking vests, which would later turn out to be bombs. Two gunmen detonated their bombs, while a third was shot and killed by storming police.
An attack was also done at a stadium where France and Germany were playing. It so happened that French President Francois Hollande was watching. Some are saying that the increased security warranted by the presence of the President may have saved many lives. Three terrorists were not able to enter the stadium proper because of the security, and one detonated his bomb just outside the stadium. Had they been successful in entering the stadium, the carnage would have been horrific.
All of the eight terrorists confirmed killed wore suicide vests. They obviously had no other intention but to blow themselves up, but not before taking as many lives as possible using their rifles. On their way to their designated targets, they strafed restaurants and busy roads, killing many. France has declared a state of emergency and has closed its borders after the worst acts of violence since World War II.
According to French authorities, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks and are even celebrating its success on the internet. One tweet caught the attention of many – “The State of the Caliphate has hit the house of the cross.” An obvious attempt at turning this whole thing into a religious issue, a religious war, which is not far-fetched. The fact that two Christian countries were playing football in the targeted stadium did not go unnoticed.
Many countries have condemned the attacks and have expressed support to France in its fight against terrorism. The Palace has issued a statement of support. No less than Pope Francis had stated that these attacks “were part of piecemeal Third World War.” France has vowed to be ruthless in pursuing the perpetrators of this cowardly act, and will respond. In fact, the whole free world should respond. It is time to declare war on groups like ISIS who have nothing good to offer this world but hate, death, and destruction. With all the available technology at hand, it is time to hunt them down and eliminate them once and for all. How these groups are being funded must also be identified and eliminated. I know AK-47 assault rifles are a dime a dozen in some countries, but the money still has to come from somewhere.
Security for the upcoming APEC summit has been made even greater in the light of the Paris attacks. One can no longer be too sure about security preparations. In Paris, many are asking why armed suicide terrorists were still able to carry out their missions even after only ten months since the Charlie Hebdo attack. Something that does warrant further investigation, especially after some witnesses described one of the terrorists as speaking fluent French. Are these terrorists already homegrown, brainwashed by ISIS? How many more of them are out there?