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Live Coverage of Breaking News Out of Paris; Authorities Say Eight Terrorists Dead; World Reacts to Terror Attacks. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired November 14, 2015 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[00:00:02] DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it.

Our live coverage of the terror attacks in Paris continues right now with John Vause and Isha Sesay.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ISHA SESAY, CNN HOST: Hello, and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the breaking news out of Paris. I'm Isha Sesay in Los Angeles.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN HOST: And I'm John Vause. It is 6:00 a.m. in France right now, where they are waking to a national state of emergency for an unprecedented and highly coordinated attack, which left at least 153 people dead in six different locations.

SESAY: Authorities say eight terrorists are dead, seven of whom blew themselves up. There is fear that more may be at large. Indeed, no one knows at this time just how many attackers were involved or if the threat is actually over.

VAUSE: Now, these terrorists, some were armed with AK-47s, and others reportedly with explosive belts, attacked sites across Paris and at a stadium where the French president was watching a soccer match.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

SESAY: Well, that sound was the sound of one of the explosions. Three explosions, we're told, were heard at the Stade de France. An Intelligence source tells us at least one appears to be a suicide bombing. At least four people died at the Stadium, and President Francois Hollande was evacuated during halftime.

VAUSE: But the worst of the carnage was that the Bataclan concert hall, where at least 112 people were killed. Witnesses described it as a bloodbath, saying the gunmen entered the crowded theater during a concert and shot at them for at least 10 long minutes.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

VAUSE: A short time later, gunfire could be heard, as police stormed the theater to rescue hostages. For attackers died in that raid. And just a short time ago, French President Hollande said France will be ruthless in its response. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I've spoken to Prime Minister and the elected members, the mayor of Paris, the -- in order to measure this tragedy, this abomination in several places in the capital, who tried to kill as many people as possible.

I'm expressing myself, my horror of the dead and expressing my compassion to the families of those who've been struck by this. I'd also like to emphasize what extent the security forces present to intervene and the terrorists in a place near here.

I also want to express my admiration to all these services, the doctors, firefighters, all this people have come to the assistance, their admirable work. I'm shocked. They're shocked by what they've seen and who are there, amongst those who've seen these atrocities.

These terrorists who pitiless, who were -- and France, which is determined and united and which will not be stopped with this emotion, regards to this drama and this tragedy of the population.

Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Defiant words from the French president.

Meanwhile, ISIS has praised the attacks on Twitter, but there's been no official claim of responsibility.

An extra 1,500 soldiers have been deployed throughout the city. These attacks underscore the challenges authorities face. Paris had already beefed up security at head of the Global Climate Summit.

It was President Barack Obama, who was expected to attend, offered his condolences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is an attack not just on Paris. It's an attack not just on the people of France. But this is an attack all of humanity and the universal values that we share. We stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance the people of France need to respond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, we're starting to get some account of what happened at these various locations. Truly terrifying.

VAUSE: There are some horrific accounts of what actually happened inside.

SESAY: Yes, absolutely. Julien Pearce is a reporter we've been speaking to. He was inside the Bataclan concert hall when it came under attack. He spoke to our own Anderson Cooper earlier and described what happened in horrifying detail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIEN PEARCE, SURVIVOR OF BATACLAN THEATER ATTACK: The show was about to end. The band, Eagles of Death Metal, was playing for almost an hour. And suddenly we heard gunshots coming behind us. And when I looked back, I saw at least two men -- unmasked men -- maybe there were three, but in the confusion I can't tell you exactly -- but they were holding assault rifles, AK-47s -- I'm sure about it -- Kalashnikovs -- and they were firing randomly to the crowd.

And so obviously, we all lie down on the floor to not get hurt, and it was a huge panic. And the terrorists -- sorry -- shot at us for like 10 to 15 minutes. It was like -- it was a bloodbath. And they shot at us, and they reloaded the guns several times, multiple times. And it's actually what -- I escaped, because they reloaded basically. I just waited for the time they reloaded to run -- to climb the scene and to hide behind it.

And I tried to help two people around me, and it was -- it was shocking. I mean, it was panicking, huge panic. And so they shot at us for 15 -- 10 to 15 minutes. It was long. It was very, very long.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Julien Pearce there speaking with Anderson Cooper a short time ago about the details as they unfolded inside that theater, one of the most famous in Paris.

Yes.

VAUSE: It has a capacity crowd of about 1,500 people.

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: And were told by members of the band who were there that it was, in fact, even oversold...

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: ...that evening, so there could have been even more than 1,500 people inside at the time of the shooting.

And our senior international correspondent in Paris is Jim Bittermann. He joins us now on the line with more on this.

So Jim, we are hearing from the French prosecutor that seven of the eight terrorists were, in fact, suicide bombers who blew themselves up. What more do we know about the gunmen who were out there? Is that the total number who were involved in this attack directly? Who else are they looking for right now?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, in fact, John, just in the last hour or so we heard from the prosecutor's office that they can confirm that all of the gunmen have been accounted for. They have -- they had said that they have killed eight of them and that seven had suicide belts on. But, in fact, they can't confirm that they have got everybody, and I think that has got the city and the nation on edge.

I think that they've (inaudible) the president ordered the borders shut and a state of national emergency, which is just unheard of here in peacetime. So it's really an amazing sort of mood this evening, as it's now going on to Saturday morning here. But after the Friday the 13th attacks, it's just left, I think, a lot of people dumbfounded about what exactly has happened -- we don't have all the details -- and where this may be going.

I mean, after all, John, and just 17 days France is supposed to welcome up to 90 heads of state government here for the climate change conference, and you've got to wonder if they cannot keep the center of Paris secured, how they could secure things for all of those leaders. That may put a lot of things into doubt here, John.

SESAY: Jim, it's Isha here. Given the statement by the French prosecutor that they are uncertain that they've apprehended everyone involved in this, set the scene on the streets of Paris right now. Are we seeing -- is it clearly evident, this heightened police presence, heightened security presence?

BITTERMANN: Oh, totally. Absolutely, Isha. I mean, there are police everywhere. Army everywhere. There's army with bulletproof vests and assault rifles. And I've seen -- overnight here, I've seen several cars sort of turned away from the scene here very aggressively. I'm about 100 yards away from the Bataclan, the theater, or the concert hall we're at where the worst shooting took place. And, you know, there will be cars approaching the police barriers, and some drivers, apparently unknowing what they were doing, and at least in one case the young soldier when his weapon straight at the -- at the driver and say turnaround. You know, the driver moved quickly to do so, and nothing happened.

But it's quite an amazing thing to see in the streets of Paris, this sort of thing going on. There's a concern that perhaps there could be somebody else out there with a gun who might try to keep this terror attack going. As with Charlie Hebdo, in fact, things didn't stop after the first attack on Charlie Hebdo. It went on for three days.

VAUSE: Jim, the French Cabinet met hours after this attack. What sort of security powers has been enacted as for as the Cabinet is concerned?

BITTERMANN: Well, declaring a state of emergency, as the president announced tonight, is a pretty serious thing. It's never been seen here, except for perhaps during the Algerian war. But sealing the borders has never taken place. And I think that they have -- the president also said that after that meeting that, in fact, they would be sealing off areas of Paris, that they would be stopping and searching people at random.

The mayor's office -- the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, announced that she was going to order all schools closed today, Saturday, and as well, all sorts of other gathering points, including supermarkets. I take it by that she probably means the large supermarkets and not the corner store.

But nonetheless, any place for anybody would gather, swimming pools and that sort of thing, have all been closed for the day today. So it's quite exceptional.

SESAY: Jim, let us turn our attention to the victims of this horrific, horrific event. At least 153 dead, but what are we hearing in terms of survivors? In terms of injuries? Are we getting any kind of update from authorities?

BITTERMANN: Well, we're not getting much of an update. I think that basically the numbers you've got there are the numbers that we have for the moment. I think that one thing -- which I'm here at the scene. I can see that what's happening here is the medical examiner and the -- and the forensic types are examining things. I think that process, just because the size of this, is going to go on for some time today.

But the case is -- the case of the people that were able to survive this and get away, I mean, we talked to a couple of them. They've -- there was -- I talked to one guy who was grazed, just a very slight one into his leg. He was able to walk away and go on home after the medical chair people had patched him up.

And then another gentleman who wasn't hurt at all, but he said that it was just terrifying -- that, you know, he described the scene of shooting everywhere, chaos inside. He said the gunmen -- he didn't hear them say anything, but he said that they just completely cold- bloodedly attacked groups of people, shooting them, and that there was chaos inside the theater as people were trying to get away. Climbing over security barriers, and the barriers collapsed, and people were on top of each other. And saying that he -- when he escaped, he walked over bodies. He wasn't sure whether he was walking over living or dead bodies, but he did manage to get out without getting hurt.

VAUSE: Jim Bittermann, thank you.

Jim Bittermann on the line there from Paris, where it is coming up to 6:15 on a Saturday morning. Jim Bittermann has been a correspondent in Paris for decades, so when Jim says it is unprecedented and he has never seen anything like this, you know that that actually means something.

SESAY: Yes.

Jim, thank you.

And when you hear these reports of the scene inside the Bataclan, people climbing over each other, and then people also saying when it first started they didn't quite hear it, because it was so loud inside. It took a moment for people to realize.

VAUSE: Some thought it was fireworks.

SESAY: Absolutely.

VAUSE: Part of the act. And then a lot of people got out when the gunmen -- well, they say they got out when the gunmen close to reload.

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: And that's when they made for the exit. That's when some of the hostages managed to escape. But clearly, more than 100 people did not get out of that theater.

SESAY: Yes. We really do not have a sense of the injured now.

VAUSE: Yes.

SESAY: This place had a capacity for 1,500 people. We know it was -- it was -- that had more than that. At least it was overcrowded. We don't how many people were injured in the nature of those injuries. We continue to ask questions about that.

VAUSE: Of course, injuries sustained by automatic weapons can be horrific.

SESAY: Absolutely. Absolutely.

We are really working to get more details for you about how this event, about how these multiple events unfolded at the epicenter of the terror attacks. Of course, we've just been talking about it, the Bataclan concert hall.

VAUSE: And one of the important things that we actually heard is that one witness has told Radio France that the shooters, they enter there. They were firing these assault rifles, these AK-47s. They were also shouting, "Allahu Akbar," which is Arabic for "God is great."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FRENCH)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, let's get right to our next guest. Bob Baer is an intelligence and security analyst for CNN. He joins us now live via Skype from Irving, California.

Bob, great to have you with us as we try and make sense of all that is unfolded and is unfolding there in Paris.

What do you make of the fact that today there's still been no claim of responsibility for these attacks?

BOB BAER, CNN INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY ANALYST: You know, it's -- that's a good question. Why hasn't the Islamic state claimed credit? It looks like one of their attacks. It has all the hallmarks -- mass casualties, coordinated, the mention of Syria, of course. But, you know, these people don't have a playbook, you know, and these things are so many of them. I wouldn't say that they're spontaneous, but they're lone wolf groups that wouldn't necessarily think about the propaganda other than the attack itself. I think what were seeing in the Islamic state is a lot a small franchises. Even the attack on the Russian airplane with the franchise. For the attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday. So I don't -- I don't think we should make too much of it. They all share the same objective, which is to attack the West, you know, in reprisal for what's happening in Syria against the Islamic state in Iraq and the rest of it.

This is a sectarian war. And it is far-flung, and it's very difficult to -- you know, there's no beheading this movement. We could take Raqqa today, and what I could predict with absolute certainty, there would be more violence from groups like this.

VAUSE: Bob, but let's talk about the attack itself. Six or seven locations, automatic weapons, hostage taking, suicide vests, automatic weapons. They're not buying that online. Do you? Do these guys have (inaudible)?

BAER: No, I don't. You know, I've heard people commenting on this. I mean, I used to run these groups. I used to do lethal operations for the CIA. And getting seven, you know, different groups, unconnected, coordinated, attacking at the same time and that operational window, you know, able to reload, and intimidated by the police -- and, you know, these people have some sort of training. You're absolutely right, John. You don't get this on the Internet.

And I don't really care what the French dig up afterwards. These people knew what they were doing.

SESAY: Bob, to that point, these people got training. You're talking about multiple individuals coming together for a coordinated attack. I mean, you've got to wonder how it is that it wasn't detected. Is it that they were criminal masterminds, or does this point to gaps in the security system, the counterterrorism system there in France?

BAER: I spent several years working with the French police. I found them to be very, very good. They're efficient. There obviously sensitized to these groups. A lot of people, they're not afraid to knock down doors and arrested I have to. They got all sorts of new authorities. And so it's not like the French were, you know, asleep at the helm. No way.

The problem is a lot of these groups understand the Darknet, peer-to- peer communication. Are using an app called WhatApp -- the French can get into that -- and a bunch of other encrypted systems. And they know to stay off the telephone. I mean, they understand that with an algorithm you can connect these groups together. But if you get off the phone, you stop texting your colleagues, you can slip under the radar.

VAUSE: Bob, what are the investigators doing right now? Obviously, they're trying to ascertain if there's any more gunmen out there. But what are they doing to try and track down what would have to have been some kind of support network there in Paris and in France?

BAER: Well, right now they should -- certainly, if they had phones, they're going through them. They're looking. They're seeing if they're prepaid. Where they live. Where they stayed. Any markings on the weapons. What kind of ammunition.

We still don't know what the attack on the Stade de France was. Was that, you know some unlikely attempt against the French president? We simply don't know. But they're going to want to be looking at what kind of explosives. If it's military explosives these guys were making their vests out of, that's a real problem. If it was TATP, which is hydrogen peroxide, that's something else.

And they can start to piece together who these people are, and they'll see a signature. But mainly they're going to be looking for the metadata to see if they can connect this group to Syria, Iraq or Yemen.

SESAY: Bob Baer, it's always great to get your perspective and your insight.

Bob Baer joining us there from Irvine, California with some important analysis. We very much appreciate it. Thank you.

VAUSE: Thank you, Bob.

BAER: Yes.

SESAY: A lot going on behind the scenes right now.

VAUSE: And this is not over yet. We just heard from Jim Bittermann reporting that while sev748 gunmen are dead, seven blew themselves up, there is still concerned that there are other gunmen, other terrorists out there right now, which is why there is this unprecedented level of security on the streets of Paris as they wake up on a Saturday morning.

SESAY: And we ask you to stay with us throughout the night here in the United States. We're going to stay on top of this story, of course. We're live in Los Angeles for you for the next couple of hours, and will bring you the very latest on the situation there in Paris.

Coming up, France wants to know what or who motivated this night of horrors. Many are looking at ISIS, and the group has not been completely quiet online. That next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:23:00] SESAY: Welcome back, everyone. It's just gone 9:23 p.m. here on the U.S. West Coast. And France is waking up to unprecedented horror. At least 153 people killed in a series of attacks, and the country is under a state of emergency right now.

VAUSE: The French president was a soccer stadium last night when three blast exploded nearby.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

SESAY: At a concert venue hundreds of rock fans just wanted to watch a performance. At least 112 of them are now dead.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

SESAY: They were held hostage and tells SWAT units stormed the theater.

VAUSE: And it was not over. At least four other locations were attacked in Paris. Officials say eight of the attackers are dead. Seven of them died carrying out suicide bombings.

And French borders are closed. The nation is grieving and waiting for answers in this terrible bloodbath.

SESAY: Well, multiple sites, multiple locations for these attacks. We want to give you a sense of exactly where all of this happened in Paris.

VAUSE: All of this is spread over just a radius of just a few miles.

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: And CNN's Tom Foreman has an overview of that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All of these attacks took place north of the traditional tourist areas in Paris along the Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame, that sort of thing. And the first one over here when we talk about the Bataclan theater attack, this was really quite the short distance from the old Charlie Hebdo offices, as you can see.

The Bataclan theater holds about 1,000 people, maybe a little bit more. It is a structure that would be considered a medium-size venue. And shortly before the concert began, the bass player for the band, this American bands from California tweeted out this photograph of the venue inside there. So you get a little sense of what it was like.

From the street level, you can see the most of the buildings around it are a little bit taller than the theater itself. And you can see some of the view there on the street where, of course, many of the victims came out as they tried to flee, and then later on as they tried to triage people to see who was hurt and who had been killed.

As we move further, not terribly far away, a short car ride and not a bad walk even, you get to this restaurant, Le Petit Cambodge. This is a popular restaurant in the area. It is in some tourist guidebooks. Not really a tourist site very much. More of a local site. But it would be very crowded, because it's very popular with the young people there. Cambodian food being offered here. Also a very densely populated neighborhood here and the 10th arrondissement, or neighborhood, or district of Paris, as they would call it.

And then if we move on to the stadium, you're getting much further north here, but you're also getting to a much, much bigger crowd. It's a modern stadium. Had an event underway, this soccer match -- 80,000 at the Stadium. And this is where we know that there was a suicide bomber, according to the authorities.

Why that a suicide bomber did not find the opportunity to strike more people, we don't know. It is a good thing that they did not. But that will be one of the many things that they try to sort out as authorities go over this geography of where the attackers came from, how they wound up where they did and how they staged these attacks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Well, thanks to Tom Foreman for that report.

Now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, at least not yet. And earlier, CNN spoke with Mia Bloom.

SESAY: She's the author of "Bombshell: Women and Terrorism," and she described what she has found on terror propaganda websites.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIA BLOOM, AUTHOR: We've been looking even in Arabic on some of the ISIS sites, and they said, you know, not yet, be patient, patience is a virtue. So there deliberately not taking any credit. And so my interpretation of this could be that they're unwilling to say anything, because there may still be some of their individuals that are out and about. They don't want to reveal anything that might contribute to their larger network being captured.

VAUSE: Yes. Listen. We have heard -- and again, and I asked the question to the newspaper editor -- that there was a heightened sense of alert, obviously, after Charlie Hebdo in January, but also recently that some venues had extra security at it, because the consensus is that they may have been expecting some sort of attack or gotten word of some sort of the attack. Have you heard anything about that?

BLOOM: There have been instructions in terms of social network sites and on social media to encourage individuals to act and to make the streets of Paris run with blood.

VAUSE: Yes.

BLOOM: So this is something that has been out on ISIS social media to make people very concerned about what might be sort of in the works.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: That was Mia Bloom there speaking to CNN just a short time ago.

And we will take a short break here, but when we come back will hear from one of our producers who was evacuated from the Bataclan concert hall. Inside he described a scene which looked like a warzone.

SESAY: We'll also hear from one man who was inside the stadium. After the break, he describes the moment when the crowd first heard the explosives detonate.

Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:30:08] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. Just past 9:30 on a Friday night here in Los Angeles. And fear is running high on the streets of Paris after deadly terror attacks across the French capital.

Military and police officers are out in droves. The latest death toll is 153 with scores more wounded. The city's prosecutor says he suspected attackers are dead. Seven died in suicide blasts. Six locations were targeted.

SESAY: Here's the breakdown of casualties according to French officials: 112 people were killed at the Bataclan concert hall; at least 14 were killed at Le Petit Cambodge restaurant; 19 were killed outside a bistro called La Belle Equipe; four were killed on Avenue de la Republique.

VAUSE: Rue de la Fontaine-au-Roi was also attacked, and four were killed outside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis north of Paris.

Our producer, Pierre Buet, was outside the Bataclan concert hall and described the scene as a war zone.

SESAY: Earlier he talked to CNN's Don Lemon about the emergency response during the rescue mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PIERRE BUET, CNN PRODUCER: Earlier the scene was one of a warzone. One of a central Paris, a very, very known district with a lot of young people going out, and it was turned into a warzone for a few hours. There were armored vehicles, about 200, 300 police, heavily armed police tactical teams taking positions. The atmosphere was very, very tense, and every few minutes or so we could hear shouts, screams, horrified screams coming from inside the theater and then as the hostages were evacuated from outside the theater.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: So talk to us about the hostages that were brought out. What were their conditions?

BUET: I would say that they were in a state of -- in a state of -- they were -- they were horrified blatantly by what they had just seen. Some of them were holding their heads. Some of them were completely disoriented. Some of them were just being held by police, just a company out of the nightclub and just trying to -- trying to get a grip really.

LEMON: Were they -- use said that they were holding their heads. Were they saying anything?

BUET: I couldn't hear any words, because I wasn't that close. I was about 30 to 40 yards just in front of the entrance of the Bataclan nightclub. I could hear screams though. I could hear a few -- a few quite horrifying screams. LEMON: And it was chaos I would imagine, because this theater holds about 1,500 people. That is a pretty big crowd.

BUET: A lot of people, thankfully -- thanks to the work of the police forces, a lot of people managed to get out. There was the first assault just through the front gates of the -- at the nightclub just about an hour after the beginning of the standoff. And a few hundred -- a few hundred hostages were evacuated at this point. And then later, about 20 minutes later, 20 or so and in 50 or so hostages were taken out of the -- evacuated out of the nightclub.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: CNN producer, Pierre Buet speaking to us a short time ago.

And at a stadium, fans were cheering at a football match between Germany and France until this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: There was two of the three blasts, which exploded near the stadium. Our sources told CNN that at least one of those explosions appears to have been a suicide bombing. Many of the fans than simply trying to get out, though many stayed to watch the rest of the game, which was actually played until completion, which was quite surprising.

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: Many people in that stadium had no idea...

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: ...of everything that was happening around them.

SESAY: Well, Jonathan Johnson was at the game when the explosions rang out.

VAUSE: He says the crowd initially didn't give those blasts much thought.

(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)

JONATHAN JOHNSON, JOURNALIST (via phone): Through the first half of the game, we heard a couple of loud explosions. Explosions when you watch games here in France, they're not entirely uncommon, however, those as loud as we heard them tonight, you know, that they're very rare, if unheard of. So that immediately put everybody on edge, at least that -- you know, that perhaps something might have been up.

And then round about halftime during the game, news started to filter through of a couple incidents in Paris, the bombing outside of Stade de France itself. We were hearing that it could have been an explosion there (inaudible). And then it escalated to rumors that grenades were thrown in the close vicinity of Stade de France. And then, of course, the shooting and the hostage taking in Paris started getting everybody's attention on social media and through mobile phones and such."

(END AUDIOTAPE)

VAUSE: Well, back now to Paris, and senior international correspondent Jim Bittermann joining us once more.

So Jim, Paris is starting to wake there. It's a few hours yet before sunrise, that this is, what, the first time there has been a nighttime curfew in Paris since World War II. These are extraordinary security measures which are in place right now.

BITTERMANN: Extraordinary security measures. And John, I would say that President Hollande flesh taken last night. You could -- you could hear his voice quavering as he was announcing these security measures, because I think that authorities were just overwhelmed with the size of this attack.

It's something that they have talked about, and they've always said that there would be this kind of an attack or could be this kind of attack, because of the number of French young people who've gone off to Syria and then trained up by ISIS and Al Qaeda. It was a great number into the hundreds, and there was always this concern that someone could come back and perpetrate this kind of thing. But I think this was beyond what anyone had imagined, and I think that the coordination of the six attacks at the different locations, clearly, there was a lot of planning that went in behind this.

And just to follow up on something your guests earlier on mentioned, that, in fact, there apparently was some stepped-up security at some of the locations, more sensitive locations around town, places where there are expatriates and foreigners and things like that ahead of this in the days leading up to this. More security was seen.

So there may have been some buzz out there on the terrorist networks, but I don't think anyone ever imagine the kind of attack that has happened overnight here.

John?

SESAY: Yes. Jim, Isha here again.

I'm just wondering whether were getting any kind of insight into police efforts right now into the investigation. What are we hearing from authorities?

BITTERMANN: Well, nothing. I think that we won't hear anything. We're expecting a prosecutor's news conference this afternoon. I think that's probably when we'll hear the best breakdown. In the past with these kind of things and with Charlie Hebdo and others, it was when the prosecutors -- the terrorism prosecutor came out and gave a detailed account of what happened that we really found out the most information. And I think that's probably what we'll have to wait for.

But we do know that behind me -- in the scene behind me here that the forensics experts and medical examiners are going through the theater where this attack took place and where the worst attack took place, and I think I be going through things with a fine tooth come and trying to find out as much information as they can about the attackers. Why they did it, but also how they did it, and how they did it without being detected.

John? Isha?

VAUSE: Jim, is there -- is there any indication that Francoise Hollande may have been a target of the bombing at the stadium? Or was that just simply a coincidence?

BITTERMANN: Well, I don't know that anything is too much of a coincidence anymore. I mean, it was Friday the 13th. These attacks on Avenue Voltaire here are not very far away from Charlie Hebdo. So I don't think there's much coincidental going on here.

But whether or not they knew that Francoise Hollande would be at the match, that's another story. There, I don't think, was a whole lot of a advanced notice that he was going to be attending. They certainly hustled him out of the stadiums once it was clear that there was an attack going on.

So it's difficult to say, and until we get more information, I don't think we will really know.

John?

SESAY: Jim, France already a country still trying to -- still reeling, if you will, from the events 10 months ago, these Charlie Hebdo attacks, and now this. You've got to wonder what this is going to do to the country as a nation. You've got to wonder, you know, how the -- how the -- how the country's going to recover from this. I mean, what's your sense? You've lived in France for such a long time. Talk to us about the impact of all of this.

BITTERMANN: Well, I think were going to see some draconian security measures. And the president already announced that with the closure of the borders and whatnot, he also said that, in fact, there could be searches and things, that citizens should expect that there would be a really heightened sense of security around.

But more than that, I mean, one of the things that they've got to worry about going forward is that in just 17 days time, the Climate Change Conference begins here, and there is something like 80 heads of state that may come. Maybe some of them will cancel their plans. But 80 heads of state over here, and they're going to have to protect all those people.

How they'll be able to protect the people and keep a sense of isolation from the -- from this event remains to be seen. I think it's going to be a very difficult, difficult challenge for the authorities. Isha? John?

SESAY: Very, very difficult. A long road ahead. CNN's national correspondent Jim Bittermann joining us there from Paris.

We appreciate the report, Jim.

VAUSE: Yes, Jim has pulled some long hours today, obviously, covering a very important story for us. And Jim, we do appreciate that.

SESAY: Thank you.

VAUSE: And it's interesting you brought up Charlie Hebdo, because we saw that massive show of...

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: ...unity...

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: ...politicians from left and right from all around the world taking to the streets in a show of defiance against terrorism. It will be interesting to see if it happens again this time.

SESAY: Some already saying they don't believe it will...

VAUSE: Yes. Yes.

SESAY: ...And they feel that there will be -- there will be an exploitation -- people ask what the divisions...

VAUSE: Yes.

SESAY: ...in Paris, so to speak -- that it will be a very different this time, and that maybe far-right groups like the National Front will benefit...

VAUSE: Yes.

SESAY: ...from this moment.

VAUSE: Because if you're just looking, in sheer death toll number, you know, this is 10 times worse than what happened earlier this year.

SESAY: Yes.

Stay with us for more live continuing coverage of the terror attack in Paris. We will be right back after this very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Welcome back, everyone. It is coming up to 7:00 a.m. Saturday in Paris, where people are waking up to their city torn apart after a series of terror attacks. And the threat may not be over. At this hour, France is under a state of emergency, and security is

heightened. At least 153 people were killed in shootings and suicide bombings at six locations across the city.

VAUSE: The most devastating ambush at a concert hall filled with fans. At least 112 people died there when the gunmen open fire. Police later stormed the building and brought out about 100 hostages. Paris prosecutors say eight terrorists are dead, but more may have been involved.

Leaders from around the world have been expressing an outpouring of support for France.

SESAY: U.S. President Barack Obama says it's not just an attack on Paris for the people of France but on all of humanity and the universal values we share.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a heartbreaking situation. And obviously those of us here in the United States know what it's like. We've gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves. And whenever these kinds of attacks happened, we've always been able to count on the French people to stand with us. They have been an extraordinary counterterrorism partner, and we intend to be there with them in that same fashion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: An American government official says there is no credible or specific threat to the United States, but some big U.S. cities are stepping up security and an abundance of caution. The New York Police Department is sending armed officers to locations linked to France across the city, such as right here at the French Consulate.

SESAY: They'll be extra patrols at night clubs, theaters and museums in Manhattan over the weekend. And right here in Los Angeles, where we are, police say they have beefed up security at airports and other high-profile locations.

VAUSE: Other world leaders quickly condemned the attack. They did it on social media.

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted this, "I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help."

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said this, "Our hearts are with Paris tonight as we learn more about these tragic attacks. We stand together. We will never bow. We will never break."

SESAY: The United Nations posted this, "Ban Ki-moon condemns the despicable terrorist attack in Paris, demands immediate release of those held hostage."

The German foreign office tweeted, "Chancellor Merkel deeply shocked by attacks in Paris. Have conveyed our sympathy plus solidarity."

VAUSE: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said this, "The reports from Paris are harrowing. Praying for the city and families of victims."

And NATO Secretary General also released a statement, saying, "I am deeply shocked by the horrific terrorist attacks across Paris tonight. We stand strong and united in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism will never defeat democracy."

SESAY: And Russian President Vladimir Putin has also condemned the attacks and offered assistance to the investigation.

VAUSE: When we come back, the people of Paris, once again, waking to the devastating headlines, "The Lights Are Out At The Eiffel Tower," "Six Terror Attacks In One Night."

The very latest from Paris after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Back, everybody. We're live from Los Angeles.

"A bloodbath," that's how one concertgoer describe the scene in Paris when gunmen stormed an auditorium during a performance.

Coordinated attacks, as bombs and firearms in six different locations across the French capital have left people around the world in shock.

SESAY: At least 153 people are dead, and many more wounded. This is the worst attack in France since World War II. The French president has declared a state of emergency.

The Paris prosecutor says eight attackers are dead, seven of them in suicide blasts.

VAUSE: There is, of course, only one story on every front page of every French daily newspaper this Saturday morning. Let's look at some of the headlines right now. Among them, " Carnage In Paris," and "War In The Center Of Paris."

SESAY: The word "horror" was on at least three of the papers, and the cover of La Parisian reads, "This Time It's War."

Well, social media is playing an important role in the aftermath of the Paris attack. People around the city has been able to let friends and family know that they are OK through Facebook's Safety Check. The tool was launched back in 2014 to help users connect during disasters.

VAUSE: And sadly, it's getting a lot of use as of late.

SESAY: Yes, it is.

VAUSE: And if you are looking for the status of a loved one who may just be in Paris, head to the Safety Check page on your Facebook account. This page lists friends who last checked in around the city. It has a running tally of whose is marked safe.

SESAY: It will provide a bit of solace to people who have got friends there.

VAUSE: Of course. I mean, yes, this is the one good thing, you know, when -- for Facebook in moments like this.

SESAY: Yes.

Well, there was a sad, symbolic site overnight in the French capital, which is also known as "The City of Light."

VAUSE: The Eiffel tower went dark to honor the victims of the terror attacks. One by one, each section faded to black. The Eiffel Tower also went dark after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January.

SESAY: Is worth reminding our viewers that those attacks just 10 months ago.

VAUSE: Yes.

SESAY: The country still reeling.

Well, thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. Live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay.

SESAY: And I'm John Vause.

We will continue our live coverage of the terror attacks across Paris after a very short break. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:00:00] SESAY: Hello, and welcome to our continuing coverage of the breaking news out of Paris.

I'm Isha Sesay in Los Angeles.

VAUSE: And I'm John Vause. It is 7:00 a.m. in France.