Paris terror attack: Bataclan police reveal attackers threatened to throw decapitated bodies out of windows as details of siege emerge
'There were dozens of bodies lying on top of each other on the ground, the dead, the injured and the survivors who were pretending to be dead'
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Your support makes all the difference.The terrorists behind the deadly attack on Paris's Bataclan concert hall threatened to decapitate hostages and throw their bodies out of the window every five minutes, police have revealed.
Anti-terror officers said the intensity of the fire directed at police in the hall could be seen after the commando unit released a picture of a bullet-riddled riot shield, as a clearer picture emerged of the chaos that engulfed the venue on Friday night.
Inside the club, over a 50-minute period, five mobile phonecalls were exchanged between a police negotiator and the gunmen.
At about 12.20am, police threw six hand grenades at the jihadists, who immediately returned fire, much of which impacted on a single riot shield, which has now attained its own status among members of the BRI, France’s hostage unit. It was hit by 27 bullets while it helped to protect 18 members of the police team.
A policeman identified only as Jean told France's TF1 television channel about the scene as anti-terror officers entered the theatre around two hours earlier.
"When we went in, it was really dark," he said.
"There were dozens of bodies lying on top of each other on the ground, the dead, the injured and the survivors who were pretending to be dead and feared we we also terrorists.
"Everybody was asking for help. People were whispering, fearful the shooting might resume."
Another officer told Le Monde newspaper the smell was unbearable and the silence appaling.
"It was like a scene from Dante's Inferno," he said.
Jean said the terrorists had not shown any interest in negotiations, saying: "They didn't want to free the hostages."
He said: "They said get out or we will shoot and we will decapitate the hostages," adding that they said they would throw a body out of the window every five minutes.
Meanwhile, the authorities reopened the roads around the club, where 89 people lost their lives. The market on the next street had also begun trading again. Here and there were unofficial memorials, with photos of the dead placed among candles and private messages.
A poster for the gig by Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage when the jihadists struck, still hangs outside. Someone had hung a banner from the upper windows of the venue which read, “La liberté est un monument indestructible”.
Possibly a result of the poor weather, there were as many television crews camped outside the Bataclan as there were people paying their respects.
One woman had left her desk at work to visit the scene. “I was in the Stade de France on Friday night and wanted to come here this morning to pay tribute to those that died,” said Aremelle. “I used to live close by and I think coming and seeing where it happened helps me to understand,” she added.
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