France Marks 10th Anniversary of Paris Terror Attacks; President Macron Honors Victims

Paris, The Gulf Observer: France marked the tenth anniversary of the 13 November 2015 terror attacks with a solemn national commemoration, presided over by President Emmanuel Macron, who underscored the country’s enduring commitment to remembrance, unity, and vigilance.

President Macron participated in tribute ceremonies at the primary sites of the coordinated Islamist attacks, including the Stade de France in Saint‑Denis, several cafés and restaurants in Paris’s 10th and 11th arrondissements, and the Bataclan concert hall. These attacks, carried out by a commando unit trained by the Islamic State in Syria, claimed 130 to 132 lives and injured hundreds, marking the deadliest peacetime assaults in French history.

During the commemorations, the President laid wreaths, observed moments of silence, and listened to testimonies from survivors and victims’ families. The day’s events culminated at a newly inaugurated memorial garden opposite Paris City Hall, where the names of all victims were read aloud as church bells tolled across the city.

In his address, President Macron acknowledged the enduring pain of those affected, stating, “The pain remains,” and emphasizing that the attackers targeted not only physical sites but also the values of freedom, equality, and culture. He affirmed the resilience of the French Republic, declaring, “Paris stood firm, you stood firm, France stood firm… we are united.”

Highlighting ongoing security efforts, the President noted that French authorities have thwarted 85 terror plots over the past decade, including six this year alone, underscoring the continued need for vigilance. The 2015 attacks prompted significant reforms in France’s counter-terrorism framework and left a lasting impact on the nation’s collective memory and sense of security.

Looking forward, President Macron pledged to strengthen both national security and social cohesion, urging citizens to honor the memory of the victims, educate future generations, and safeguard the Republic’s democratic values. He emphasized that the “void that can never be filled” must never become a void of forgetting.