Coordinated ISIS Attacks Strike Paris, Killing 130
In the wake of earlier ISIS activities in Europe and the Middle East, a cell of operatives planned simultaneous strikes in the French capital. On the evening of November 13, 2015, suicide bombings occurred near the Stade de France during a soccer match attended by President François Hollande. Gunmen then attacked cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall, taking hostages in a prolonged siege. French security forces responded with raids that ended the Bataclan standoff. The attacks killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more, marking the deadliest terrorist incident in France since World War II.
Why it matters: The Paris attacks accelerated European counterterrorism measures, including enhanced intelligence sharing and military involvement in Syria and Iraq. They also influenced debates on migration, security, and civil liberties across the continent while prompting global solidarity campaigns against ISIS.