I went to watch a football match in Paris. As a friendly football match between France and world champions, Germany was underway, two suicide bombings took place just outside the arena, killing at least five people and injuring 30 others. Inside the stadium, initial oblivion turned into shock, horror and confusion. More than 70,000 fans, including President Francois Hollande, had gathered at the stadium to watch the match on Friday night. Seventeen minutes into the game there was an explosion. It was later discovered to be the detonation of an explosive device at an entry gate, killing three people. But at the time, the fans didn't know what had happened. I heard fans cry "Ole!", thinking the explosion to be a firecracker, a common feature of French football matches. Fans continued cheering even as a second explosion was heard two minutes later – this one turned out to be a second suicide attack near the stadium, killing another two people and injuring several others.

 

It was only as text messages and social media updates started filtering in that the fans realised what was happening. But on the pitch, the players continued the game. A helicopter flew over the stadium at half-time and President Hollande was shepherded out. The crowd continued to watch the match and even cheered the two French goals, according to another journalist at the game.