Ten Years On, Paris Remembers Victims of 2015 Terrorist Attacks
The city of Paris came together on Thursday night to pay tribute to the 130 people killed in the devastating terrorist attacks that struck the capital ten years ago. The pain and grief still lingered, but as President Emmanuel Macron said, "The pain remains," a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of that fateful day.
At the Paris remembrance ceremony, bells rang out across the city as survivors and relatives gathered to honor the victims. In a speech, Macron vowed to take action to prevent any further attacks, saying, "Everything will be done to prevent any new attack and to ruthlessly punish those who would dare to attempt it." He also highlighted the progress made in recent years, noting that 85 attacks have been foiled since 2015, including six this year.
The victims of the Bataclan concert hall attack, where nine people were killed by Islamic State gunmen, are still remembered vividly. Jesse Hughes, lead singer of the Eagles of Death Metal, sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" with a choir of survivors and relatives at the ceremony, a poignant tribute to the victims.
The sole surviving member of the 10-person terrorist cell that carried out the attacks, Salah Abdeslam, is serving a life sentence in prison. His lawyer, Olivia Ronen, has said he may be open to speaking with victims' families as part of a "restorative justice" initiative.
As France continues to grapple with the aftermath of the 2015 attacks, the city is planning to open a terrorism memorial museum in 2029. The museum will tell the story of terrorism in France from the 1960s to the present day and feature many objects linked to the 2015 attacks, including a concert ticket donated by a mother who lost her daughter at Bataclan.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, reflected on the motivations behind the attack. "The terrorists wanted to attack this culture that is ours β this culture of joy, celebration, diversity, sharing and music." The impact on families and loved ones was also felt, with one survivor, Sophie Dias, telling Associated Press how her father's absence still weighs heavily on her ten years after his death.
As the city of Paris continues to heal and remember, it is clear that the wounds of 2015 will take time to fully close. But for now, the pain remains, a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of terrorism on our lives and communities.
The city of Paris came together on Thursday night to pay tribute to the 130 people killed in the devastating terrorist attacks that struck the capital ten years ago. The pain and grief still lingered, but as President Emmanuel Macron said, "The pain remains," a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of that fateful day.
At the Paris remembrance ceremony, bells rang out across the city as survivors and relatives gathered to honor the victims. In a speech, Macron vowed to take action to prevent any further attacks, saying, "Everything will be done to prevent any new attack and to ruthlessly punish those who would dare to attempt it." He also highlighted the progress made in recent years, noting that 85 attacks have been foiled since 2015, including six this year.
The victims of the Bataclan concert hall attack, where nine people were killed by Islamic State gunmen, are still remembered vividly. Jesse Hughes, lead singer of the Eagles of Death Metal, sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" with a choir of survivors and relatives at the ceremony, a poignant tribute to the victims.
The sole surviving member of the 10-person terrorist cell that carried out the attacks, Salah Abdeslam, is serving a life sentence in prison. His lawyer, Olivia Ronen, has said he may be open to speaking with victims' families as part of a "restorative justice" initiative.
As France continues to grapple with the aftermath of the 2015 attacks, the city is planning to open a terrorism memorial museum in 2029. The museum will tell the story of terrorism in France from the 1960s to the present day and feature many objects linked to the 2015 attacks, including a concert ticket donated by a mother who lost her daughter at Bataclan.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, reflected on the motivations behind the attack. "The terrorists wanted to attack this culture that is ours β this culture of joy, celebration, diversity, sharing and music." The impact on families and loved ones was also felt, with one survivor, Sophie Dias, telling Associated Press how her father's absence still weighs heavily on her ten years after his death.
As the city of Paris continues to heal and remember, it is clear that the wounds of 2015 will take time to fully close. But for now, the pain remains, a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of terrorism on our lives and communities.