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Catastrophe

France marks 10 years since deadly Paris terror attacks

Karl Sexton | Elizabeth Schumacher with AP, AFP, dpa
Published November 13, 2025last updated November 13, 2025

President Emmanuel Macron led tributes to mark the 10th anniversary of the November 13, 2015, attacks, when 130 people were killed and hundreds injured by gunmen and suicide bombers.

(From L) President of the Life for Paris victims association Arthur Denouveaux, Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo, President of France Emmanuel Macron, French President's wife Brigitte Macron and President of the association "13Onze15 Fraternite-Verite" Philippe Duperron pay tribute to victims at the intersection of of Bichat and Alibert streets near "Le Petit Cambodge" and "Le Carillon" in Paris on November 13, 2025
The Elysee has ensured that victims' families had a prominent role in the tributes Image: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

France on Thursday commemorated the 10th anniversary of the November 13, 2015, terror attacks in Paris.

There were 130 people killed and over 400 injured when militants loyal to the "Islamic State" (IS) group attacked several sites almost simultaneously on a Friday night in Paris. 

At a ceremony Thursday afternoon outside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, attended a wreath-laying ceremony and observed a minute of silence. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also attended.

"Ten years. The pain remains," Macron said on X ahead of the ceremony. "The lives cut short, the wounded, the families and the loved ones, France remembers."

Macron honored the victims of the terror attacks at ceremonies across ParisImage: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

How did Paris mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks?

The tribute at the country's national stadium was the first of several across the city Macron was attending on Thursday.

The French president also appeared at ceremonies at every site that was attacked 10 years ago: two cafes in the bustling 10th arrondissement; three establishments in the neighboring 11th arrondissement; and the Bataclan theater, where 90 people were killed during a concert by US band the Eagles of Death Metal. 

Outside the Bataclan, Macron and former President Francois Hollande took part in an afternoon ceremony that saw the normally busy Boulevard Voltaire fall silent.

Parisians left tributes at the foot of the monument on the Place de la RepubliqueImage: Michtof/PsnewZ/IMAGO

An event was also held at the Place de la Republique, where people left candles, flowers and handwritten notes at the foot of the Marianne monument.

The Eiffel Tower was illuminated in the colors of the French national flag, and the bells at Notre-Dame Cathedral rang out in the evening in memory of the victims of the attacks.  

A minute's silence was also slated for before France's World Cup qualifying game against Ukraine on Thursday night, which was taking place at Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes rather than at the Stade de France.

The Eiffel Tower has been lit up in France's national colors this weekImage: Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium/IMAGO

The day of remembrance culminated with a ceremony at a newly inaugurated memorial garden opposite City Hall in the center of Paris.

At the ceremony, which featured several musical performances — including one led by Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes — and a solemn reading of all of the victims' names, including two who were wounded in the attacks and later died by suicide, Macron pledged that France would do "everything" to prevent a repeat of the attacks and "to ruthlessly punish those who would dare to attempt it."

France marks 10th anniversary of Paris attacks

02:26

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After hailing the bravery of the victims, the first responders and survivors of the attacks, the French president warned of the threat posed by another form of Islamist terror that he described as "internal, insidious, less detectable, less predictable."

"No one can guarantee the end of attacks, but we can guarantee that for those who take up arms against France, the response will be uncompromising," Macron said.

The president added that 85 attacks had been foiled in the past 10 years, including six this year.

The 'Jardin du 13 novembre 2015' was inaugurated to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks Image: Ludovic Marin/AFP

What happened on November 13, 2015?

The attacks began when suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests at the entrance of the Stade de France, where the French men's national team was playing against Germany.

Over the next 20 minutes, gunmen would open fire on people at several bars and restaurants, including the Bataclan.

The Paris attacks were the deadliest incident in peace-time FranceImage: Jacques Brinon/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

"The 10th anniversary is here and emotions and tension are everywhere for us survivors," said Arthur Denouveaux, president of victims' association Life for Paris. "That kind of shields us from the world in a way, because we're so focused on the grief and on remembering those who lost their lives."

Denouveaux was attending the concert at the Bataclan when three gunmen burst into the venue and killed dozens during a three-hour siege.

The lone surviving attacker, Salah Abdeslam, is serving a life sentence in prison. Nineteen other accomplices have also been convicted.

Europe's deadliest terror attacks: Revisiting a decade on

02:35

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Edited by: Sean Sinico

Karl Sexton Writer and editor focused on international current affairs
Elizabeth Schumacher Elizabeth Schumacher reports on gender equity, immigration, poverty and education in Germany.
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