#ParisAttacks: Three days of mourning declared

As a series of co-ordinated explosions and shootings at six targeted locations in the city left 128 people dead and nearly 100 more seriously wounded last night.

Three suicide bombs were detonated near the Stade de France where the French and German national football teams were playing an international friendly. 

Three suicide bombers blew themselves up at restaurants outside the stadium and it appears they were the only casualties in that bombing. 

The explosions could be heard from inside the stadium where there was first confusion and then panic as hundreds of fans descended on the pitch later. 

Earlier in the day, the German team were evacuated from their hotel due to a bomb threat that was apparently received. French President Francois Hollande was at the match when the explosives went off. 

He was quickly bundled into a car and escorted to safety by a security detail convoy. 

There are reports that also at the stadium were hundreds of the volunteers who had assisted on the crash site of the Germanwings flight which was deliberately flown into the French Alps in March by its co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. 

All 150 people on board died. Last night's match was meant to have been a "thank you" to the volunteers. 

Elsewhere, gunmen pounced on a number of other eateries in the city opening fire on patrons and anyone else in the way. In total, 36 people died in those shootings.

Gunmen also entered a packed Bataclan Concert Hall were an American rock band, Eagles of Death Metal had been performing. 

Witnesses say the shooters locked down the venue before calmly opening fire with Kalashnikovs. More than 80 people were killed before police arrived and rescued survivors.

In a statement which is yet to be verified, Islamic State has since claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying "eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles" conducted a "blessed attack on Crusader France".

The group says the targetted locations were “carefully chosen” and suggesting the attacks were in retaliation to what it says are France’s “airstrikes on Muslims in the Caliphate”.

Addressing the French nation earlier, President Hollande called the attacks an “abomination” and an “act of war”. He has promised a ruthless response to the killings, which he has blamed on IS.