The tragic attacks that struck Paris on Friday night (Nov. 13) have left millions around the world in shock and hundreds of families in mourning. One American has been identified in the Paris death toll, which now brings the victim count to 129 deaths and 352 injured (at least 99 of them in critical condition), according to a recent CNN report.
The United States victim was Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old California State University - Long Beach junior. The El Monte, California native was one of 17 students studying abroad in Paris at Strate College of Design, the school told CNN.
On Saturday (Nov. 14), Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins announced the most recent death toll that resulted from Friday night's attacks and French President François Hollande officially declared the horrific incidents an "act of war." The country is currently under a national state of emergency and has tightened their borders.
A night at the infamous Bataclan Concert Hall turned into bloodshed after terrorists took over the hall and held people hostage, opening fire and detonating suicide belts. The gunmen were shouting about France's involvement with Syria and Iraq.
Three teams of seven terrorists ignited attacks throughout seven different sites in Paris. They each wore suicide belts and carried Kalashnikov assault rifles. Five of the gunmen blew themselves up during the acts, while French security services killed a sixth. Details of the seventh terrorist's death has yet to be revealed.
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks in digital broadcasts in both French and Arabic. According to The New York Times, ISIS said in a press release that the attacks are the "first of the storm" and ridiculed the country for being a "capital of prostitution and obscenity."
One of the terrorists was identified through fingerprints as a 30-year-old French national from Courcouronnes who was known by the French Security Services, Molins said on Saturday according to CNN. He was involved in the Bataclan attack and has a prior criminal record.
A passport was also found on the body of one of the suicide bombers who attacked the Stade de France stadium during a soccer game. The cities in France that were affected by the attacks were specifically plotted against, according to the statement released by ISIS.
Further investigations are being pursued in Belgium in connection with the attacks in Paris, after several raids were conducted and three arrests were made.
