10 years on, France remembers victims of Paris terrorist attacks
France is paying tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris 10 years ago, with a series of memorial events across the city.
On the evening of 13 November 2015, nine Islamist terrorists carried out a series of suicide bombings and shootings at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and in the city centre, on restaurant terraces and inside the Bataclan concert hall. A total of 130 people were killed and more than 400 injured.
The day of commemoration began at 11:30, with a tribute to Manuel Dias, the first victim. This was due to be followed by ceremonies at all the locations where attacks took place, finishing with a service at 14:30 at the Bataclan.
A memorial garden is due to be opened at 18:00 in central Paris. President Emmanuel Macron, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, Philippe Duperron, president of a victims’ association, and Arthur Dénouveaux, president of the Life for Paris association, will each give a speech.
At Place de la République, the city council has called on locals to place candles, flowers and notes in recent days. The Eiffel Tower has been lit up in red, white and blue since Wednesday evening.
Molenbeek investigation
Soon after the attacks took place, the police investigation pointed to the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a resident of Molenbeek, was seen as the linchpin of the network behind the attack. He was killed a few days later when the police stormed an apartment in Saint-Denis.
The French brothers Salah and Brahim Abdeslam also lived in Molenbeek. Brahim detonated his suicide bomb, while Salah backed out at the last minute and returned to Belgium. Bilal Hadfi, a Frenchman who blew himself up near the Stade de France, lived in Laeken and attended the Anneessens-Funck Institute in Brussels.
Chakib Akrouh was a Belgian from Molenbeek. He blew himself up a few days later during the police raid in Saint-Denis.
The same network was behind the bombings on 22 March 2016 in Brussels, which killed 32 people at Brussels Airport and Maelbeek metro station.
"We express our solidarity with the French people. Belgium remains united and determined in the fight against terrorism"
Salah Abdeslam was sentenced to life in prison in France for his role in the Paris attacks. At a later trial in Haren over the Brussels bombings, he was convicted of terrorist murder and attempted murder. However, he did not receive an additional sentence, as he had already been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a shoot-out with police in Forest in 2016, a week before the Brussels attacks.
“Today, we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the tragic attacks in Paris,” the Belgian Foreign ministry said on X. “Our thoughts go to the victims and their loved ones, and we express our solidarity with the French people. Belgium remains united and determined in the fight against terrorism.”
Tributes to the victims of the 2015 attack at Place de la République in Paris, 11 November 2025 © PHOTO KARIM AIT ADJEDJOU / ABACAPRESS.COM
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