Most of the deaths came in an attack on the Bataclan theatre, where gunmen took hostages and were systematically shooting them until police stormed the venue and freed the survivors. Hostages who were able to communicate with sources outside the building had earlier said they were being killed "one by one" and asked for a police raid, according to CNN. According to France’s BFMTV, local television was showing footage of victims being carried from the building on stretchers. At least 100 hostages were escorted from the concert hall.

The 1864-vintage Bataclan, which is located at 50 boulevard Voltaire in the 11th arrondissement, was hosting a concert by a California rock group called Eagles of Death Metal.

President François Hollande later visited the theatre, accompanied by a heavy cordon of security.

At least six attacks were confirmed at various spots across the French capital Nov. 13, including restaurants and the theatre, along with three explosions at the Stade de France, the national stadium where France was playing Germany in a soccer match. As of Nov. 14 morning, a total of 140 were reported killed. It was being called the worst attack on French soil since World War II. The Middle East group ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks Nov. 14.

It's less than a year since the January 2015 attack by two gunmen on the Paris offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 and wounding 11. The offices are located just 200 meters from the Bataclan, according to Agence France-Presse.

U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement condemning the attacks as an “outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians.”