Attacks claimed by the Islamic State left a deep mark on European society and politics; 130 died
O The worst attack in the history of France turns 10 this Thursday (November 13, 2025). The tragedy, which killed 130 people in Paris and Saint-Denis, impacted the politics of the European continent and the lives of the French population.
The responsibility for the attacks was assumed by the jihadist organization – a term used in the West to refer to extremist Muslims who use violence to impose Islamic law –, created in the wake of the consequences of the and who starred in (2011-2024).
A decade later, the memory of the attacks continues to mark European society, with influence on migration policy and security schemes in the continent’s countries.
The night of the attack
On November 13, 2015, between 9 pm and 1 am local time, coordinated attacks were carried out in Paris and Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of the French capital.
The 1st was an explosion on the outskirts of in Saint-Denis, where a match between the French and German teams was being played. In total, 3 suicide bombers exploded in suicide attacks in the vicinity of the stadium.
In Paris, extremists shot at people in restaurants and cafes on some of the capital’s busiest streets, leaving dozens dead and injured.
On Boulevard Voltaire, an important avenue in the city, a suicide bomber committed suicide by detonating explosives in an establishment. A few kilometers away, a historic concert hall would be the scene of the most serious attack of the night.
O That November 13th, a concert by the North American band Eagles of Death Metal was hosted. With a capacity for 1,500 people, the space was packed. The extremists opened fire on the crowd. According to witnesses, one of them shouted “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic exaltation meaning “God is the greatest”).
According to the a woman said she thought the shots were fireworks. When they realized the gunshots, those present lay down on the floor and began to crawl towards the stage. Some managed to escape through the emergency exit, while others were taken hostage.
French security forces were sent to the scene, where 2 of the extremists detonated bombs and committed suicide. The 3rd was shot by police and his explosive belt detonated on its own.
In total, 130 people died in the attacks and hundreds more were seriously injured. After the attack, the then president (Socialist Party, center-left) declared a state of emergency in the country.
The Islamic State responsible for the attack the following day. According to the group, the attacks were a response to “bombing of Muslims in the land of the caliphateAt the time, France was part of the coalition of countries that acted against the organization in Syria and Iraq.
Precedent and consequences
In 2015, the for terrorist threats. In January of the same year, the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo was attacked by Al-Qaeda also in Paris, killing 12 people.
Fear spread across the continent as new attacks were committed, and France was at the center of it. Hollande even declared, after the November 13th attacks, that the country was “at war” against terrorism.
According to Daniella Motta da Silva, PhD in Political Science from the Fluminense Federal University and specialist in migration and anti-terrorism policy, the European continent observed with amazement a threat that it did not seem to know how to combat.
She recalls that, in previous decades, Europe sought “progressively reduce internal border barriers until they are virtually eliminated” – a reference to where citizens of member countries of the (European Union) do not need a passport to travel.
This changed with the social destabilization that erupted with the attacks on the continent. Motta claims that the attacks were responsible for shaking European democratic unity and radicalizing the political debate.
Border control policies, intensified with the migration crisis resulting from the Civil War in Syria, have taken over discussions in the EU. Motta explains that, as a result, the relationship between immigration and national security began to be treated as inseparable.
In this context, the researcher mentions “the rise of radical parties, with inflammatory, anti-European Union and anti-immigration speeches”, which were effective in capitalizing on the population’s fear and demands.
Anti-terrorism measures
As a result of the November 2015 attack, France implemented drastic and immediate changes to its security instruments.
“The measure taken by the French State had the main objective of significantly strengthening the police powers available to administrative authorities, mainly the Minister of the Interior [à época Bernard Cazeneuve] and the mayors”, explains Motta.
The researcher states that, during this period, the policies adopted by France were the target of questions from organizations such as . Human rights groups have pointed out that anti-terrorism measures have been used to target Muslim populations, “with investigations that could be seen as abusive and even discriminatory”.
After the attacks, the European Parliament updated, in 2018, a which strengthens the criminal response against the crime of money laundering, in an attempt to undermine the financing of terrorist groups.
Still, the threat persists. “The attacks perpetrated in recent years progressively reaffirm that extremist violence and its consequent impact on the radicalization of European citizens still exists”, says Motta.
Second report from (European Union Agency for Police Cooperation), 889 people were detained from 2022 to 2024 in EU member countries on suspicion of offenses related to jihadist terrorism or religious motivation.
On Monday (10.nov), French authorities Maëva B., former companion of Salah Abdeslam, sole survivor of the extremists responsible for the attacks in Paris and Saint-Denis, for terrorist conspiracy. According to the PNAT (National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office), she presented “clear radicalization and fascination with jihad”.
Trauma and memory
On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the November 2015 attack in France, several tributes are organized in the country, while the victims continue to try to deal with the trauma.
On Sunday (Nov 9), a race organized by the French Association of Victims of Terrorism took place in Paris, with more than 1,700 participants. The route included some of the places marked by the tragedy, such as the Bataclan.
The city hall of the French capital inaugurates this Thursday (Nov 13) a memorial in Saint-Gervais square, in the central region, with the names of the victims of the attack. The ceremony is attended by the French president, (Renaissance, center), and the city’s mayor, .
As a form of recovery for victims of terrorist attacks, PNAT suggested creating a restorative justice system, which seeks resolution through dialogue and contact between the aggressor and those affected.
Despite having existed in France for more than 10 years, this system has not yet been used in cases of terrorism. According to the French broadcaster PNAT states that a request to this effect was made by the victims themselves.
To the broadcaster on Tuesday (Nov 11), Olivia Ronen, Salah Abdeslam’s lawyer, stated that her client wishes to participate in a restorative justice process with the victims of the attack.
This report was produced by the journalism intern under the supervision of the editor.
