[UPDATE] Death Toll Rising; Hostages Taken At Eagles Of Death Metal Gig In Paris

It has been confirmed that people have been killed and hostages taken at an Eagles Of Death Metal gig in Paris as part of what seems to have been a series of co-ordinated terror attacks in the French capital.

It is estimated that 100 people were taken hostage and at least 40 people killed at the gig — the situation at the venue is now believed to be under control. But with resources stretched across three areas of the city, information remains sketchy. 

According to Fairfax, the gig which took place at the Bataclan Theatre has seen some concert-goers shot down by the gunmen, while dozens more were held captive. It is estimated that 1500 fans had attended the sold-out show.

Consequence Of Sound have reported that the US rock group had vacated the building by the time of the attack. It is also understood that some-time drummer Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age front man) is not with the band on the European tour. 

Witnesses from inside the venue have said there that were between six-to-eight gunmen in the venue, they were engaged in a shootout with police. 

The French militia are now believed to have stormed the theatre. 

Meanwhile, there have been further attacks at restaurant Le Cambodge where it is reported 15 people have been killed, as well as several explosions at Stade De France during an international football match between France and Germany. 

[UPDATE] It is now being reported that two or three gunmen have been killed at the venue. A state of emergency has been declared and France has closed its borders (Belgium has shut its borders now as well).

Stereogum have reported that the wife of Eagles Of Death Metal's touring drummer Julian Doro has informed media that band members are safe. She told one US news site: "We are just holding our breath and saying prayers for everyone."

[UPDATE] Some news services are now reporting that that death toll from the concert has risen to 100. It is believed there is a total of 118 fatalities in total from all the attacks that took place.

There are also stories of four more attacks taking place — including one at Le Forum Des Halles shopping centre and another at the Louvre. 

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced that any Australians who have concerns for themselves or for their loved ones and friends in France, the consular emergency number, it's a 24-hour number is 1300555135.

Police fear that the attacks are not yet over.

[UPDATE] Eagles Of Death Metal's opening band at the Bataclan Theatre, Madagascan blues rock duo White Miles, have posted a message on their Facebook page saying: "Dear all, Medi and Lofi are save! Thank you for your care. All our thoughts are with the victims and their families." 

French President Francois Hollande has now rushed to the site of the Bataclan attack. He has confirmed that the gunmen at this attack have been killed. 

[UPDATE: 12.52pm AEDT] Guardian is reporting that the death toll from the Bataclan Theatre attack has risen to 120. The death toll from all attacks now stands at 140. 

LA Times have reported that two members of Eagles Of Death Metal's crew are still unaccounted for. They also confirm that "band members have been accounted for and are safe."

A witness, identifying as one of the concert goers, has spoken to La Figaro (translation via Billboard): "It was chaos. I was on the right in the hall of Bataclan, a song by Eagles Of Death Metal was going to end, when I hear noises like exploding firecrackers, I see the singer removed his guitar, I turn I see a guy armed with an automatic weapon that shoots into the air. Everyone folds to the floor. From there, it is the instinct that takes over in each burst, we try to crawl as far as possible shooters."

[UPDATE: 1.13pm AEDT] Patrick Smith, who lives near the Bataclan, has told ABC News that the concert hall attackers held the "entire audience hostage for an hour". He claims that stun grenades were thrown inside the hall by police after one of the gunmen started shooting concertgoers after a stand-off with officers. He added, "You saw the white flashes of the stun grenades and then there were a series of very big explosions."  He then speculated, "It may be that some of the hostage-takers... had suicide packs on and they blew themselves up."

[UPDATE: 1.21pm AEDT] David Ian Hughes, brother of Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes, has posted a message on Facebook confirming that his sibling is okay, "I spoke to him about an hour ago. The band is ok too. I hold out hope that as many people as possible make it out ok, as well."

Julian Pierce, a journalist at the Eagles Of Death Metal show, has described the chaos inside the concert hall (via ABC): "They didn't shout anything. They didn't say anything. They said nothing. They just shot. They just shoot.They were just shooting at people." 

LA Times have written that the band had been on stage for about an hour when the gunfire, panic and stampede started.

[UPDATE: 1.50pm AEDT] Police have confirmed that the Bataclan attackers blew themselves up with 'suicide belts' as police entered the venue. The Paris police prefect said the gunmen initially sprayed machine gunfire at a cafe outside the venue before entering the main hall. All four attackers died in the suicide blasts.