At least 30 people were killed in a series of attacks in central Paris on Friday night, according to media reports.
Explosions were heard near a stadium where a soccer match was underway and there are also reports of dozens of people being held in a hostage situation at a theatre.
The deputy mayor of Paris said at least three areas had been attacked and that 18 people had so far been confirmed as dead.
President Francois Hollande and his interior minister rushed from the soccer match to the ministry to deal with the unfolding situation, an official said.
Officials said there were shots fired in at least two restaurants in the capital, and at least two explosions were heard near the Stade de France.
Shots were fired at a restaurant in the 11th arrondissement in Paris, believed to be near the Place de la Republique, and ambulances were at the scene.
Pictures posted online showed cracked windows of what appears to be the restaurant.
Opposite, the road opens up into a junction, where about 30 or 40 people were standing outside their cars and on the road.
Police cars were seen behind them, while the road appeared to be closed.
One witness said he hear gunshots as he was walking on a street in the 10th district of Paris close to Place de La Republique.
When he arrived outside a restaurant he saw bodies on the ground. “I saw three bodies being put into body bags,” said Fabien Baron, a student.
Explosions
In an apparently separate incident, explosions were heard from within the Stade de France, about 8km from the city centre, where France were playing Germany a friendly game.
The AP reported an explosion at a bar near the stadium, and that it was “unclear” if anybody had been hurt.
Eyewitness Ben Grant said he was in a bar with his wife when the gunshots were fired and he had seen six or seven bodies on the ground.
He told the BBC: “I was told people in cars had opened fire on the bar. “There are lots of dead people. It’s pretty horrific to be honest.
“I was at the back of the bar. I couldn’t see anything. “I heard gunshots. People dropped to the ground. We put a table over our heads to protect us. “We were held up in the bar because there was a pile of bodies in front of us.”
British prime minister David Cameron said: “I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.”
The attacks come almost a year after the Charlie Hebdo atrocity, which took place in January and saw 12 people killed after gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical magazine.
In June, France launched a terrorism investigation after police found a decapitated body in a gas factory in the south-eastern city of Lyon. And two months later three Americans and one Briton were awarded medals for bravery after they overpowered a heavily armed gunman on a train in France.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly
