From H S Rao
London

Describing the terror assaults in France as an “attack on humanity”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked the UN to define terrorism before it is too late so that the world knows who is backing terror and who is against it.

Condemning the terror attacks in Paris that claimed over 120 lives, Modi said, “What happened in Paris yesterday is an attack on humanity and the world should accept that it is not an attack on Paris, not an attack on French citizens, not an attack on France but an attack on humanity.”

“It is an attack on humanitarian principles that is why all the powers that believe in humanity have to come together to condemn such attacks. All pro-humanity forces should unite to defeat anti-humanity forces. They will have to fulfil their responsibilities,” he said here at the ceremony for unveiling the statue of 12th century Indian philosopher Basaveshwara.

Modi said whenever evil forces raise their head, reformers like Basaveshwara take centre-stage.

On the third and final day of his UK visit, Modi said, “It is unfortunate that I am unveiling the statue of Basaveshwara…at a time when my heart is filled with shock.”

Modi called on the UN to define terrorism before it is too late so that it becomes clear who is siding with terrorism and who is fighting the menace.

“I would like the UN that is celebrating its 70th anniversary to not waste anytime in defining terrorism…the proposal is in front of it…so that we get to know that who is siding with terrorism, who is helping terrorism, who is backing terrorism and who is being targeted by terrorism, who are against terrorism and who for humanity are ready to sacrifice.”

He stated that it was the “need of the hour” that world’s pro-humanity forces unite before it is too late.

“And with unity isolate such forces (anti-humanity) and chalk out a strategy to defeat them,” he said.

Earlier in the day when the news of the attacks in Paris broke, Modi had tweeted, “News from Paris is anguishing & dreadful. Prayers with families of the deceased. We are united with people of France in this tragic hour.”

France was rocked by multiple, near simultaneous attacks on entertainment sites around Paris last evening that claimed over 120 lives.

At least two explosions were heard near the Stade de France national stadium where a France-Germany friendly soccer match was being played with President Francois Hollande in attendance.

“Paris attack similar to 2008 Mumbai carnage”
From Lalit K Jha
Washington

Drawing parallels between the Paris and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in terms of low-cost and level of sophistication, security experts today said that the mayhem will be a “game changer” for how the West looks at the threat posed by terrorism.

Over 120 people were killed as terrorists attacked sites throughout the French capital and at Stade de France stadium during a friendly football match between France and Germany.

French President Francois Hollande was also present at the stadium when the attack occurred.

John Miller, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counter-terrorism of the New York Police Department told CNN that the Paris attack resembles the Mumbai terrorist attack in terms of low-cost and low resources and it carried the various features of the 26/11.

Bruce Hoffman, head of the national security programme at Georgetown University, referred to a call given by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden five years ago to carry Mumbai-type attack across Europe.

“The attacks show a level of sophistication we really haven’t seen in an urban area since 2008 in the attack in Mumbai,” Michael Leiter, former director National Counterterrorism Center, was quoted as saying by NBC News.

“This will be a game changer for how the West looks at this threat,” Leiter said.

Retired Air Force General Michael Hayden said the Paris violence was “certainly a terrorist attack” and that “our fears have been realised” because the assaults greatly mirror the 2008 terrorism in Mumbai that killed at least 166 people, including six Americans.

After the Mumbai attack, carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, intelligence agencies around the world had studied the carnage to prevent a repetition of such incidents.

“We had great fear that we would see copycat versions of that attack and now, I fear that our fears have been realised, and we’re seeing that carried out tonight in Paris,” Hayden said.

“It shows the fragility of free societies. It shows the great danger that international terrorism presents to all of us,” he said.

Brian Michael Jenkins from RAND Corporation told The Press Enterprise newspaper that the Paris attacks were reminiscent of the November 2008 assault on the densely crowded Indian city of Mumbai, where teams linked to an Islamic militant organisation carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days.

“These sorts of attacks are a matter of determination and the ability to acquire weapons,” Jenkins said.

“In some of these European countries, anyone with criminal connections can acquire an AK-47. It doesn’t require a great deal of skill to shoot diners at a restaurant or spectators at a rock concert. You don’t need to go through training,” he said.

WBZ-TV Security Analyst Ed Davis also said the Paris attack resembles the Mumbai terrorist assault.

“This is exactly what we fear most. A Mumbai-style attack with multiple teams simultaneously hitting different places,” Davis said.

“What happened in Paris on Friday night is exactly what Europe’s security services have long feared, and tried to foil. Simultaneous, rolling attacks, with automatic weapons and suicide bombers in the heart of a major European city, targeting multiple, crowded public locations,” BBC in its commentry said.

“The tactics have been used before, in Mumbai and elsewhere,” it said.

The two-day G20 Summit at Antalya in southern Turkey is likely to be overshadowed by the attacks. French President who was to attend the summit cancelled his visit.

European Council President Donald Tusk said he will ensure the G20 summit in Turkey over the weekend will respond to the threat of terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the summit.

Paris terror attack most painful: BJP
New Delhi

Describing the terror attack in Paris as an attack on humanity, BJP today said all peace-loving countries should join hands to destroy terror outfit ISIS.

“These attacks are most painful. The attack is not on Paris alone but on the humanity, on all the peace-loving countries. It is time for all nations wanting peace and progress to unite to fight ISIS. ISIS is not confined to a country but is a poisonous ideology which must be destroyed,” BJP media department in-charge Shrikant Sharma said.

He noted that Prime Minster Narendra Modi has been advocating the need for various countries to come together to fight terrorism.

Sharma said Modi made a pitch for it at the UN, G-20 and other international forums.

Over 120 people have been killed in a popular Paris concert hall where attackers seized hostages yesterday in one of at least six terror attacks that unfolded across the city in the deadliest violence the French capital has seen since World War II.

At least two explosions were heard near the Stade de France national stadium where a France-Germany friendly soccer match was being played, attended by President Francois Hollande.

After the attacks, Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced that he was closing the country’s borders. Hollande, who had to be evacuated from the stadium