IS Jihadists Claim Paris Attacks That Killed
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SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015 SAFAR 2, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Arabic Israel razes Egypt’s woes Russia pays threatened by homes of four erode Sisi’s doping dominance Palestinians image of price with of English5 in West8 Bank invincibility IAAF ban IS jihadists 15claim Paris18 Min 11º Max 25º attacks that killed 128 High Tide 00:18 & 14:14 France vows ‘merciless’ response • Concert hall, stadium, cafes targeted Low Tide 07:40 & 19:33 40 PAGES NO: 16698 150 FILS PARIS: Islamic State jihadists yesterday claimed a series of coordinated attacks by gunmen and suicide bombers in Paris that killed at least 128 people in scenes of car- nage at a concert hall, restaurants and the national stadi- um. French President Francois Hollande also blamed the Islamist extremist group for the bloodshed and called the coordinated assault on Friday night at six different sites an “act of war”. Authorities identified the body of a French national known to the intelligence services near the Bataclan con- cert hall, where 82 people were killed by armed men who had shouted “Allahu akbar” (“God is greatest!”) before gunning down concert-goers. Police sources said he was probably one of those who stormed the building as around 1,500 people were watching a Californian rock band. The discovery of Syrian and Egyptian passports near the body of other of assailants appeared to justify fears over the threat posed to Europe by extremism in the Middle East. SEE PAGES 10, 11, 14, 20 & 40 The attacks, which saw the first-ever suicide bombings on French soil, were “prepared, organized and planned overseas, with help from inside (France) which the inves- tigation will establish,” Hollande said. Analysts at Eurasia Group said the attacks “confirm a structural shift in the modus operandi of the Islamic State, and represent a prelude to additional attacks in the West.” A man arrested in Germany in early November after guns and explosives were found in his car may be linked to the attacks in Paris, Bavaria’s state premier said, without giving details. The streets of the French capital were eerily quiet yes- terday, as authorities declared a state of national emer- gency following the worst attacks in Europe since the 2004 Madrid train bombings. While many residents stayed inside out of fear, hundreds gathered sponta- neously at blood donation centres while others flocked (Right) Victims of a shooting attack are seen on the pavement outside La Belle Equipe restaurant in Paris late Friday. (Top left) French President Francois Hollande, to place candles and flowers at the sites where people protected by armed bodyguards, stands near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris early yesterday; (Above left) A memorial of flowers and candles is seen in had died. Strasbourg, eastern France, yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 15 Kuwait reaffirms solidarity with France Amir sends condolences • No change in Schengen visa issuance KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Hamad Al-Sabah also sent similar cables to Hollande. which hit Paris. Such heinous acts can only strengthen the Al-Sabah on Friday night sent a cable of condolence to National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem also resolve of the friends in France to pursue their role in the French President Francois Hollande following the attacks strongly condemned the terrorist attacks. He sent a cable fight against terrorism, the official said, reaffirming in Paris. The Amir strongly condemned “these criminal of condolence to the President of the French National Kuwait’s solidarity with France in all measures it might acts of terrorism which run counter to all teachings of Assembly Claude Bartolone to express profound grief take to protect its security and stability. holy faith and humanitarian values”, and expressed sin- over the tragic incidents and reaffirm full support to the Kuwait maintains its principled stance against all forms cere condolences over the large number of victims. people and government of friendly France. Ghanem said of terrorism whatever the sources or justifications might He reaffirmed Kuwait’s solidarity with the French peo- terrorism has become a global menace everywhere in the be, the official stressed. He expressed condolences to the ple and government, saying Kuwait supports all measures world, which requires a global collective effort to eradi- grieving families and wished the wounded quick recov- France might take to protect its security against terrorist cate it. He wished those wounded in the multiple attacks ery. Kuwait Ambassador to France Sami Al-Suleiman acts. He also renewed Kuwait’s commitment to the inter- quick recovery. urged all Kuwaiti nationals and students to remain vigi- national campaign against all forms of terrorism. HH the Meanwhile, a Kuwait Foreign Ministry official said lant for their safety and follow the instructions of the local Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Friday night that Kuwait followed, with profound concern authorities. ‘Jihadi John’ and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- and grief, the news of the despicable acts of terrorism Continued on Page 15 Search for ‘Jihadi 10 dead as French train John’ took months WASHINGTON: The US-British missile strike derails during test run believed to have killed “Jihadi John” came together STRASBOURG, France: Ten people unaccounted for. All those aboard the at lightning speed, but was months in preparation. were killed after a French high-speed train were employees of the SNCF Shortly before midnight Thursday, two US MQ-9 train derailed during a test run yester- national railways. Reaper drones and one British MQ-9 cruised above day, local officials said, announcing a The accident is the worst since the Raqqa, the Syrian heart of the Islamic State’s self- rise in the death toll. The train accident French TGV trains went into service in declared caliphate that stretches deep into Iraq, US happened “because of excessive speed” 1981. A total of 49 technicians, but no officials said. The aircraft’s controllers monitored at Eckwersheim in eastern France as paying passengers, were onboard when two people who had entered a parked car. technicians were on board for testing, the accident happened during testing One, they were convinced, was Mohammed said a top local official Dominique- on one of the next generation of TGV Emwazi, the British computer programming gradu- Nicolas Jane. However, police said the high-speed trains due to go into service ate who catapulted to infamy in Aug 2014 when he cause of the crash had not been deter- in Spring 2016, the local prefecture said. presented the beheading of American journalist mined. A source close to the investiga- The train ended up near a bridge in the James Foley, the first of several grisly videos in tion said dozens of technicians were water of a roughly 40-m-wide canal. A which he presided over the decapitations of foreign aboard. Another 32 people were police dive team, helicopters and tens of hostages. Brandishing a knife, dressed head to toe injured, 12 seriously. French rescue vehicles were sent to the scene in in black, and speaking with a London accent, ANTALYA, Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) meets Saudi Environment Minister Segolene Royal response to the crash. The initial toll was Emwazi became known as “Jihadi John”, the most King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud yesterday before the upcoming G20 Turkey said at the scene that a further five were put at “at least five dead”. — Agencies potent symbol of the group’s brutality and a high- Leaders’ Summit. — AFP value target for US and British intelligence agencies. US officials said the US and British military opera- tion to kill Emwazi had been in the works well Terrorism center-stage before the drones finally unleashed Hellfire missiles on Thursday night. US and British agencies had as world leaders meet tracked the Islamic State propagandist and alleged executioner for months before delivering informa- BELEK, Turkey: Turkish President Tayyip be attended by heads of state including tion on his movements and location to the US mili- Erdogan urged world leaders yesterday to US President Barack Obama and Russian tary, officials said. prioritize the fight against terrorism as President Vladimir Putin. In the days leading up to the strike Emwazi had they gathered for a summit in southwest- French President Francois Hollande has been moving around Raqqa, visiting his wife’s resi- ern Turkey, saying the Paris attacks pulled out of the meetings but told dence and an Islamic State media operations cell, claimed by Islamic State showed the time Erdogan by phone that his foreign and said one US official, speaking on condition of for words was now over. The worst blood- finance ministers would attend, Turkish anonymity. The subsequent US and British opera- shed in France since the end of World War presidential sources said. At least 127 peo- ECKWERSHEIM, France: Rescuers work at the scene where a high-speed TGV tion unfolded quickly. Two cast a pall over preparations for the ple were killed as bombers and gunmen train coach and engine carriage lie in a canal in near Strasbourg after derail- Continued on Page 15 two-day summit of the Group of 20 major went on a rampage across the French ing yesterday. — AFP economies that begins today and is due to Continued on Page 15 LOCAL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015 In my view War in the heart of Paris By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] rench newspapers described the Paris attacks as a ‘War in the heart of Paris’ with black mast- Fheads. The Paris attacks are indeed an act of radical terrorism. It is an insult to humanity, and an incident that should unite the world to combat ter- ror regardless of its location, source and power.