Francois Hollande Saturday called the attacks highly …
Francois Hollande called Saturday the extremely deadly attacks in Paris of “act of war”, pointing for the first time as head “terrorist army” of the organization Islamic state, “Daech” and called on the French for “unity”, “gathering” and “cool.”
“It’s an act of war committed by a terrorist army, Daech a jihadist army,” said the Head of State in a statement after a Defence Council at the Elysee Palace following the attacks . Denouncing the “absolute barbarity” of the attacks that killed “at this time, 127 people dead and many injured,” the president spoke of “an act of war prepared, organized, planned from outside and with internal complicity that the investigation will establish. ” The IS Group did not at this stage claimed these acts.
Francois Hollande called on the French for “unity”, “gathering” and “cool.” “What we are defending is our homeland, but it’s much more than that, these are the values of humanity and France will take responsibility. I call you to this essential unity, “said the head of state.
He announced that he had signed a decree to “proclaim national mourning for three days.” “It is an act of absolute barbarism. At this time, 127 people dead and many injured. Families are in grief, distress. The country is in trouble and I made a decree to declare national mourning for three days. ” He did not say from when exactly would apply mourning.
The Head of State assured that “all measures to protect our citizens and our territory are taken.”
“France will be ruthless” on all fronts, “inside and out,” said he said.
The president also announced that on Monday, he will address both Houses of Parliament assembled in Congress at Versailles, to “gather the nation in this event.”
Prime Minister Manuel Valls, the Ségolène Royal Ministers (Ecology), Christiane Taubira (Justice), Jean-Yves Le Drian (Defence), Marisol Touraine (Health), Emmanuel Macron (Economics), Michel Sapin (Finance) and Bernard Cazeneuve ( Interior) were present at the Defence Council and the secretary general of the Elysee, Jean-Pierre Jouyet.
The Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who shall replace the President in particular the G20 in Antalya, Turkey, was absent.
Also represented were the heads of the main security services: the Director General of External Security, the Director of Homeland Security, the Director General of the National Gendarmerie, the Director General of the National Police, the Chief of Staff Armed, the Secretary General of Defence and National Security, and finally the police prefect of Paris.
Friday night, Hollande had declared a state of emergency throughout the territory.
