A decade after the deadliest assault on French soil since the Second World War, France has held a series of poignant commemorations for the 130 people killed in a coordinated terror rampage.
A Nation Remembers
On the 10th anniversary of the 13 November 2015 attacks, the nation paid an emotional tribute to those who lost their lives when Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers targeted popular cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. The events have left a permanent scar on the national psyche.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and Brigitte Macron were among the dignitaries who gathered at Rue Alibert and Rue Bichat. This was the location of two of the targeted sites: Le Carillon bar and Le Petit Cambodge restaurant.
Scenes of Solemn Tribute
Across the city, citizens gathered to honour the victims. At the Place de la République, a large makeshift memorial grew throughout the day, filled with candles, flowers, and poignant signs. One tag read, "13 November 2015, neither forget nor forgive," capturing the enduring sentiment of a grieving city.
Mourners also gathered at the intersection of Rue Alibert and Rue Bichat, and individuals arrived at the Bataclan concert hall with white roses, the site of the most devastating loss of life. Café La Bonne Bière, another location targeted that night, stood as a silent witness to the morning's commemorations.
A Legacy of Change
The 2015 attacks prompted the French government to implement sweeping emergency security measures. Many of these policies, born from tragedy, are now permanently embedded in French law.
As night fell, the nation's symbol, the Eiffel Tower, was illuminated in the blue, white, and red of the French flag, a powerful and unifying visual tribute to the 130 lives lost a decade ago.
