French President Promises Pitiless Retaliation (Speech Included)
- Details
- Category: World News - Europe
- Published on Saturday, 14 November 2015 10:28
- Written by Janet Walker
French President François Hollande, in the aftermath of the Night of Terror, has vowed “pitiless” retaliation against those who facilitated, funded and coordinated the attacks in central Paris that killed 166 and injured hundreds more.
Hollande moved quickly after being evacuated from the Stade de France, a site of one of the well-coordinated attacks meant to inflict widespread mass casualty, and immediately closed the borders in the event of attempted escape by any surviving terror suspects.
Parisian residents, of all city zones and especially in the 10th and 11th arrondissements, were ordered to shelter in place, to stay in-doors, until further notice and even into Saturday with some business, monuments, tourist attractions, and public transportation closed. Business, schools and universities will remain closed through Monday, November 16, 2015.
More Coverage: Charlie Hebdo Coverage - The World Unites Against Extremism
President Hollande has asked residents and all citizens to remain vigilant and cautious.
Visibly shaken, his voice trembling, Hollande’s initial televised statement was reactionary. He later delivered these remarks:
"My dear compatriots,
As I speak, terrorist attacks of unprecedented proportions are underway in the Paris area. There are dozens killed, there are many injured. It is a horror.
We have, on my decision, mobilized all forces possible to neutralize the terrorists and make all concerned areas safe. I have also asked for military reinforcements. They are currently in the Paris area, to ensure that no new attack can take place. I have also called a cabinet meeting that will be held in a few minutes.
Two decisions will be taken: A state of emergency will be declared, which means that some places will be closed, traffic may be banned, and there will also be searches which may be decided throughout Ile de France (greater Paris). The state of emergency will be proclaimed throughout the territory (of France).
The second decision I have made is to close the borders. We must ensure that no one enters to commit any crimes and that those who have committed the crimes that we have unfortunately seen can also be arrested if they should leave the territory.
This is a terrible ordeal which once again assails us. We know where it comes from, who these criminals are, who these terrorists are.
In these difficult moments, we must — and I'm thinking of the many victims, their families and the injured — show compassion and solidarity. But we must also show unity and calm.
Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great and the state authorities must be firm. We will be.
We must also call on everyone to be responsible.
What the terrorists want is to scare us and fill us with dread. There is indeed reason to be afraid. There is dread, but in the face of this dread, there is a nation that knows how to defend itself, that knows how to mobilize its forces and, once again, will defeat the terrorists.
French citizens, we have not completed the operations. There are still some that are extremely difficult. It's at this moment that the security forces are staging an assault, especially in a place in Paris.
I ask you to keep all your trust in what we can do with the security forces to protect our nation from terrorist acts.
Long live the Republic and long live France."
Facts within this story were gathered from multiple sources.
