The Paris Blood Bath

“It's our goddamned city! It's our goddamned country.

No terrorist can take it from us for so long as we're free.

Once we're not free, the terrorists win!

                                                            Cory Doctorow

Friday the 13^this much more than a quaint superstition observed by a few uneducated people in distant, unreachable towns and hamlets.The origins aren’t perfectly clear, but we do know that both Friday and, separately, the number 13 have long been considered unlucky and it was around the late 19^thcentury that the first documented instances started popping up of people putting the two together to form the unluckiest day. As it turned out, Friday, the 13^thof Nov, 2015 will bear its scars on Paris and the entire humanity for a long time. In a dastardly attack, 8 militants descended down Paris and in a wave of coordinated attacks in different locations using different methods against unsuspecting Parisians who were enjoying their weekend, left more than 120 dead. A further 200 have been wounded, 80 seriously. 80 people are reported to have died at the Bataclan concert hall alone. Others died in a reported suicide blast near the Stade de France, where France was playing Germany with President François Hollande in attendance, and in drive-by gun attacks on city centre restaurants. The numbers will only increase as the city administration, Police and the Military conduct follow up operations.

One of the assailants in Paris on Friday mentioned France's intervention in Syria's war to justify the attacks, said a witness who was at the concert venue.
"I clearly heard them say, 'It's the fault of (French President Francois) Hollande, it's the fault of your president, he should not have intervened in Syria.”“They also spoke about Iraq," said Pierre Janaszak, a radio presenter.
In all, 8 attackers are reported to have been killed, seven of whom died after they detonated suicide belts.The eighth terrorist was gunned down by the Police. Aspokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said more attackers could still be at large. France has declared a national state of emergency and has closed its borders. Paris residents have been asked to stay indoors and around 1,500 military personnel are being deployed across the city.

Earlier the ISIS terrorist dubbed Jihadi John who oversaw the brutal executions of American and Western hostages was hit by a U.S. air strike on Thursday night and is believed to have been killed. Intelligence agencies had put Britain on high alert against an expected retaliatory attack by the ISIS elements. The coordinated attack in Paris may not be linked to the death of Jihadi John as it would have taken some time for the terrorists to plan and execute the carnage in Paris.

In Sep 2014, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani ash-Shami a spokesman of ISIS said in a 42-minute speech released on social media “If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be.”The web world has been flooded with sense of rejoice from the ISIS supporters and the rogue organization has now claimed responsibility. This is only going to strengthen the resolve of the French and the EU in their fight against terror.

The segment of EU opposing the refugees from Syria on account of rogue elements entering their country in the garb of refugees will now pitch for the return of refugees, creating turmoil in the region. There will be questions asked on the security and intelligence lapses, some even attributing it to the out stretched deployment in Syria and along the border to deal with the refugee crisis.  It is also likely to encourage right wingers who firmly believe the EU is not the place for Islam. The terrorists at the concert kept shouting Allah-o-Akbar as they sprayed bullets. Some reprisal on Muslims in France and across Europe cannot be ruled out which will only reinforce the vicious cycle of hatred, attacks and counter attacks. The 28 member EU is a force to reckon with, especially in the free market economy, but it has its own problems to deal with including integration, expansion and security. Not all member states are on board in the Global War on Terror(GWOT). The governments of the day and head of the states have consistently taken a beating on the issue of participation in the US led GWOT. Tony Blair’s insistence on continued participation of British soldiers in Iraq led to massive reduction in his rating till he handed over to fellow Gordon Brown from the Labour party. USA for long has been pointing at the EU’s policy on easily attainable Political asylum and prohibition on deportation of convicted terrorists making Europe an easy source of terrorist threat. The multiple attacks is going to make the leaders of EU sit up and re-strategise their counter terror policy as it could have happened anywhere. Such attacks also become motivational acts for the terrorist groups to emulate elsewhere. This event also is going to test the unity of the EU, as France, Germany and Britain will expect solidarity and support beyond condemnation and rhetoric. A more direct involvement of other members will suck them into a messy asymmetric war for which their leaders, the security apparatus and the nation as such may not be prepared as yet. The Friday attack is in a way an attack on the freedom of France, which is so dear to them. A ruthless repost is definitely on the cards which may also alter the narrative of GWOT hereafter.

“News from Paris is anguishing and dreadful.Prayers with the families of the deceased. We are united with the people of France in this tragic hour," Prime Minister Modi tweeted soon after the attacks.The Prime Minister with great perseverance has tried to persuade nation states across the globe and the UN to define terrorism, identify states which harbour terrorists and isolate them. Two days ago while addressing MPs in British Parliament’s Royal Gallery, Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the UK in 10 years, said,“The world must speak in one voice and act in unison to combat terrorism, calling it, a challenge of our times.” India for long has suffered from the scourge of terrorism. It has also made the nation more aware, more prepared and more sensitized in dealing with terrorism. For now India needs to keep a watch as events unfold in Europe and West Asia and keep its security apparatus up to date to prevent any such incident in its own backyard.

Views expressed by the author are personal.Author is a Senior Fellow at CLAWS.