France Honors 10th Anniversary of Paris Terror Attacks: Remembering the 130 Victims

France commemorates the 10th anniversary of the devastating November 13, 2015, Paris terror attacks on Thursday, remembering the 130 lives lost in one of the deadliest assaults in modern French history. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks that targeted cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall, leaving deep emotional and political scars on the nation.

The tragic night began with suicide bombers striking outside the Stade de France, where then-President François Hollande and the German foreign minister were attending a soccer match. Gunmen later opened fire at several Parisian locations, culminating in the massacre at the Bataclan, where the rock band Eagles of Death Metal was performing.

French President Emmanuel Macron will lead commemorative ceremonies starting at 11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT), beginning at the Stade de France before visiting the other attack sites, including the Bataclan. Survivors, families, and officials will gather to honor those who died and those still suffering from trauma.

Survivor Sébastian Lascoux, who was inside the Bataclan, recalls the terror vividly. “People ended up all squashed together and collapsed as one,” he said, describing the chaos and horror as gunfire filled the hall. Nearly a decade later, he still struggles with post-traumatic stress and avoids crowds or enclosed spaces. Another survivor, Catherine Bertrand, now vice-president of a victims’ association, said, “We are all deeply traumatized, but life must go on. There are concerts again at the Bataclan, life goes on.”

A decade later, France’s terrorism threat has evolved. While Islamic State no longer has the same operational reach, online extremist propaganda continues to inspire and radicalize vulnerable individuals. French prosecutors recently opened a new investigation linked to the sole surviving attacker’s former partner — a reminder that the shadow of November 13 still lingers over France.