ABSTRACT
When hundreds of music lovers walked into the historic Bataclan concert hall in Paris, they were looking forward to an evening of good music, fun and fellowship. As American rock band The Eagles of Death Metal played its first set, laughing and joking with the crowd, ISIS terrorists were circling behind the Bataclan, preparing for their violent assault. At 9:42 pm, the gunmen sent a text to an unknown contact stating “We’ve left” and “We’re starting.” After throwing the mobile phone into a trash can, the group stormed the concert hall and began their assault with a barrage of AK-47 gunfire. People thought the action was part of the show, perhaps pyrotechnics or firecrackers, until the horrified band ran from the stage. What started as a night of fun in one of the world’s most revered cities ended in tragedy, not only for those at the concert hall but at a stadium and several outdoor cafés. ISIS successfully carried out its first coordinated soft target attack against a western city, killing 130 people and injuring 350.
