UPDATE:
11/14/15 – 10:00am EST
In addition to rallying the nation after the shocking terror attack on Paris, French President Francois Hollande has been on the phone talking about fighting terror with other world leaders.
Those include the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is hosting the G-20 summit on Sunday. Erdogan assured the French president that the Paris attacks that killed 127 people Friday night will be a “top priority” on the G-20 agenda.
Hollande also spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, European Council President Donald Tusk, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
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Two French police officials say that authorities have identified one of the suicide bombers who targeted Paris in deadly attacks as a young Frenchman flagged in the past for links with an Islamic extremist activity.
The officials said the man was among attackers who blew himself up after a rampage and hostage-taking in a Paris concert hall.
Earlier, police officials said at least one suicide bombers who targeted another site, France’s national stadium, was found to have a Syrian passport.
None of the attackers has been publicly identified.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named.
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Syrian President Bashar Assad says the policies of some Western countries — including France — in the Middle East are partly responsible for the expansion of terrorism.
He urged French President Francois Hollande to change his policies and “work for the interest of the French people.” He criticized Hollande for ignoring that some of his allies support “terrorists” in Syria — a phrase he uses for all armed factions in Syria.
Assad says his country warned three years ago what would happen in Europe if the West continued to support “terrorists” in his country. He spoke Saturday as he met with French lawmakers in Damascus.
At least 127 people died in Friday night’s gun-and-bombing rampages in Paris. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.
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French authorities have closed the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and other top tourist sites in Paris until further notice following deadly terror attacks.
A Louvre spokeswoman said the museum opened as normal Saturday with enhanced security, but was ordered closed by the Culture Ministry after President Francois Hollande called for national day of mourning. Isabelle Esnous, a spokeswoman for the Eiffel Tower, said the monument did not open as a security precaution.
The Culture Ministry said “public cultural sites” were closed in the Paris region Saturday, without specifying.
At least 127 people died in Friday night’s rampage of shootings at Paris cafes, suicide bombings near France’s national stadium and a slaughter inside a concert hall. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.
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The governor of Bavaria says the arrest of a man in Germany last week may be linked to the Paris attacks.
A spokesman for Bavarian state police spokesman confirmed that firearms, explosives and hand grenades were found when undercover police stopped a man near the German-Austrian border on Nov. 5.
Ludwig Waldinger declined to confirm reports by public broadcaster Bayrischer Rundfunk that the man appeared to be en route to Paris when he was arrested.
Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer told reporters Saturday there were “reasonable grounds” to assume that there may be a link to the Paris attacks.
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