Facebook sets up safety check for Paris friends

Police said around 100 people were killed at the Bataclan music venue in eastern Paris alone, where one witness said an attacker yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest). - AFP Photo

PARIS: Facebook launched a check-in feature to let people know that friends in Paris were safe after a series of bombings and shootings in the French capital killed at least 120 people on Friday.

The "Paris Terror Attacks" safety check let people signal whether they were out of harm's way, then notified all those they know at the leading social network.

"Quickly find and connect with friends in the area," a message at the Facebook Safety Check page read. "Mark them safe if you know they're OK."

The feature also allowed people to check which friends listed as being in Paris had not yet checked in as safe.

"We are shocked and saddened by the events unfolding in Paris," a Facebook spokesman told AFP.

"Communication is critical in these moments both for people there and for their friends and families anxious for news."

The death toll in the "unprecedented" series of attacks across Paris climbed through the night.

Police said around 100 people were killed at the Bataclan music venue in eastern Paris alone, where one witness said an attacker yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

- Source: AFP | Updated November 14, 2015

Serangan bersiri di Paris, sekurang-kurangnya 100 maut

Menurut polis, sekurang-kurangnya 15 orang terbunuh di dewan konsert di tengah-tengah Paris. - Foto AFP

PARIS: Sekurang-kurangnya 153 orang maut dalam beberapa siri tembakan serentak di bandaraya Paris pada Jumaat, termasuk letupan di luar Stadium Nasional di mana satu perlawanan bola sepak sedang berlangsung.

Polis berkata kebanyakannya menjadi korban di Dewan Konsert Bataclan di tengah Paris, kira-kira 200 meter dari bangunan bekas ibu pejabat Charlie Hebdo di mana serangan anggota kumpulan jihad berlaku pada Januari lalu.

Polis turut memberitahu terdapat tebusan ditahan di lokasi itu yang terkenal sebagai pusat hiburan pada waktu malam.

Tiga maut berhampiran Stadium Stade de France yang terletak di utara bandaraya berkenaan, di mana sedang berlangsungnya satu perlawanan bola sepak antarabangsa.

Presiden Perancis, Francois Hollande telah dibawa keluar dari stadium berkenaan sebelum perlawanan tamat.

Penonton dibawa keluar melalui tiga pintu utama.

Satu lagi serangan dilaporkan di sebuah restoran makanan Kemboja, Petit Cambodge, tidak jauh dari Bataclan.

Siasatan awal telah dimulakan.

Datuk Bandar Paris, Anne Hidalgo, menasihatkan orang ramai untuk tinggal di rumah.

Perancis sebelum ini diletakkan dalam keadaan berjaga-jaga selepas serangan ke atas Charlie Hebdo pada Januari.

Angka rasmi menunjukkan lebih dari 500 orang pejuang Perancis kini bersama kumpulan IS di Syria dan Iraq, manakala 250 orang telah dibawa pulang dan kira-kira 750 pula menyatakan keinginan untuk ke sana.

Kerajaan Perancis minggu lepas mengumumkan akan mengembalikan prosedur pemeriksaan di sempadan sebagai satu langkah keselamatan sempena perbincangan berkenaan iklim anjuran PBB yang akan berlangsung di Paris, hujung bulan ini. 

- Sumber: Agensi | November 14, 2015