Paris Attacks: Bataclan Victims Are Defiant In Their Messages Of Survival On Eagles Of Death Metal's Facebook Post

Bataclan Victims Are Defiant In Their Messages Of Survival

Victims of the Bataclan attack in Paris are sharing their defiant messages of survival on social media.

Heroic tales of how fans at the concert hall managed to escape were posted on the Eagles Of Death Metal's Facebook page after the band, who were due to perform that night, paid tribute to those who died in Friday's terrorist attack.

One victim from London said that he was at the concert with nine friends when he was shot twice by terrorists who stormed the hall.

He recounts how a woman called Katie who stopped him falling unconscious after he was hit by bullets saved him.

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Paris attacks: Bataclan theatre scene

In the emotive post, Mark Backwell said: "I came from London for the gig, and was shot twice. I was there with 9 friends and by a miracle we all got out, though half of us were injured. Peace to the band, you are as much victims as we all were.

"I would especially like to give my thanks to a lady called Katie, who was holed up in a back office in a bank or post office near the Bataclan with me and who kept pressure on my shot arm to staunch the blood, even though she was desperately worried because she couldn't raise her boyfriend on the phone (she did eventually, to both our relief).

"She stopped me losing blood and falling into unconsciousness or worse. She was a marvel to me.

"And I would like to thank the 2 French firemen who joined us in that office and stayed with us, and the police and paramedics who helped us to safety from there.

"Vive la France, Vive la Rock 'n Roll, and fuck those pathetic excuses for human beings who took so many from us. My heart goes out to everyone affected. xxxx"

Victims of the attack wrote their tales of survival after Eagles Of Death Metal posted this heartwarming message on their fan page.

While the band is now home safe, we are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France. Our...

Posted by Eagles Of Death Metal on Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The band's post has been shared more than 34,000 times and has been commented on thousands of times.

Maxime Dourlens also commented on the post, saying: "They tried to kill me and my wife while dancing in front of our favorite band, thankfully they failed.

"We saw what no one should have to see. Our thoughts are with everyone who lost their lives and their relatives."

Another fan explains how lucky timing saved her from the onslaught.

Mamie Tomane said: "Because of a boring woman in front of us and the smallest beer ever served we have moved to the bar. We were just behind the main door when it began. Bodies fell on me and saved my life. I don't understand yet why."

The responses have been called the "most inspiring" thing to emerge from the tragedy, with many calling the replies to the band's post "both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time".

As the identities of the victims were revealed, it became clear that the attack on Friday was one on Paris's youth.

In the ethnically mixed Parisian neighbourbood, popular among youths, the bombings left not only France in mourning, but also the world in shock.

"By attacking bars, restaurants and a concert venue, meticulously chosen targets, in a young ethnically-mixed neighbourhood for the most terrible carnage in the history of France, murderous Islamism wanted to kill the liberty to live as one wishes," said Laurent Joffrin, the editor of Libération.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks, was killed during a police raid in Saint-Denis on Wednesday.

Abaaoud's cousin, Hasna Aitboulahcen, believed to be Europe's first female suicide bomber, also died in the raid.

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