The horrific series of terrorist attacks throughout
Paris have sent shock waves across Europe and
the world.
According to media reports, more than 120 people were killed in multiple attacks on several locations
 in the French capital, including a restaurant near
 the Place de la Republique, the Bataclan concert
venue, and the Stade de France, home of the
French national soccer team. Some of the attacks
 are reported to have been suicide bombings.
The French government has declared a state of emergency, deployed troops to the streets of Paris,
 and has closed the country’s borders.
In terms of sheer scale, this could be the largest
 terror attack on Western soil since the 9/11
 attacks on the United States in 2001.
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While it is too early to
determine the exact
identity of the terror group responsible for these
atrocities, the attacks are consistent with the
kind of mass casualty attacks that have been
carried out in the past by Islamist terrorists in
London, Madrid, Istanbul, and most recently in
Paris itself, with the Charlie Hebdo massacre in
January this year.
It also comes in the wake of last week’s
explosion onboard a Russian airliner flying
from Egypt to St. Petersburg, which U.S.
 and British authorities believe was a terrorist
attack. According to the London Daily 
Telegraph, gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar”
in one of tonight’s Paris attacks.
There is speculation that the terror attacks
are a direct response by the Islamic State to
the U.S. drone strike Thursday that killed the 
terrorist known as Jihadi John in Raqqa, Syria.
While it is unlikely that ISIS would have the
 capability to launch such a well-coordinated
attack within such a short time frame, it is
possible ISIS had been planning such an
attack on Paris for some time and decided to 
launch it today for propaganda reasons, to 
give the impression that this is immediate
 retaliation for the Jihadi John strike.
The barbarism and carnage on the streets
of Paris are a stark reminder that the free
world is at war with brutal terrorist groups
who seek to sow death, fear and destruction
in the West.
This is a moment for robust and bold
leadership from leaders on both sides of
 the Atlantic, who must be prepared to
emphatically defeat the enemy we face.
In the words of Britain’s Iron Lady, Margaret
Thatcher, after she survived an assassination
attempt while serving as prime minister:
The terrorist threat to freedom is worldwide.

 It can never be met by appeasement.

Give in to the terrorist and you breed

more terrorism. At home and abroad

our message is the same. We will not

bargain, nor compromise, nor bend the

knee to terrorists.
This commentary was updated to include the 
latest information on the attacks.