A night in Paris turns into terror

Parisians were enjoying what seemed to be a normal Friday night, eating out, watching live music and cheering on the football. Then everything changed.

Football players and fans were shocked by sounds of an explosion, gunfire erupted in the streets and more than 100 people were taken hostage at a concert. It will be a night not only France, but the world, will remember.

More than 120 people are reported to have been killed in several locations around Paris after gunmen and bombers attacked a concert hall, restaurants and bars.

Here is what we know.

Key facts:

• More than 120 people were killed in the gun and bomb attacks
• At least 80 are reported to have died inside the Bataclan concert hall
• Seven of the attackers are believed to have blown themselves up, an eighth shot by police
• France has closed its borders and much of central Paris remains locked down
• Others died in attacks near the Stade de France, where France were playing Germany, and at restaurants
• France has declared a national state of emergency, hospitals nationwide are on an emergency footing
• Parisians have been asked to stay indoors, 1500 extra soldiers are being deployed across the city

There are at least six sites in Paris where attacks took place. They are:

• Bataclan concert venue, 11th district - hostages held
• Le Carillon, 10th district - gun attack
• Le Petit Cambodge, 10th district - gun attack
• La Belle Equipe, 11th district - gun attack
• Near Stade de France, St Denis, just north of Paris - reported suicide attack near venue as France v Germany football match played
• Reports of gunfire at at least one other site

This map pinpoints the locations of the shootings and explosion.

This is how events unfolded:

At around 9.30pm in France (9.30am Saturday NZ time) news of attacks in north east France and at the Stade de France start to trickle in.

Eighteen people are confirmed as been killed by 10pm (local time). One location is confirmed as Petit Cambodge restaurant in the 11th district. Three explosions are heard outside a bar at Stade de France. French President Francois Hollande is watching the match and is moved to safety.

It is reported about 60 to 100 hostages were been held near the Bataclan arts centre - only about 200m from the former office of Charlie Hebdo which was attacked by jihadists in January.

President Francois Hollande places the whole of France under a state of emergency and closes the country's borders at approximately 11pm (local time).

French president Francois Hollande adresses the nation Photo: AFP

There's confirmation three people were killed earlier in an attack near the Stade de France, where France were playing Germany. Reports suggest a suicide blast.

Police storm the theatre about midnight (local time), and later say about 100 people are dead inside and four attackers are also dead.

In a live address on television, Mr Hollande talks of "unprecedented attacks in progress in Greater Paris".

People are being evacuated on rue Oberkampf near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris Photo: AFP

Four police officers are allegedly killed during the re-taking of the Bataclan concert hall, the Guardian reports.

About 3.30am (local time), the head of Paris police reportedly says all attackers are believed to be dead.

Le Parisien has a list of the deaths and injuries at the various attack sites around Paris, which it sources to the French authorities.

• Bataclan: at least 100 dead, seven people in a critical condition, four others injured
• Rue Charonne: 19 dead, 13 people in a critical condition, 10 others injured
• Rue Bichat: 14 dead, 10 in a critical condition, 10 others injured
• Avenue de la Republique: Four dead, 11 in a critical condition, 10 others injured
• Stade de France: four dead, 11 in a critical condition, 39 others injured
• Rue Beaumarchais: three people in a critical condition, four others injured

-RNZ/ BBC