On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Paris attacks, the city finds itself in a state of both reflection and renewed vigilance. Ten years ago, on November 13, 2015, Paris was rocked by coordinated jihadist attacks that left 130 people dead and hundreds more wounded, as reported by AFP and Free Malaysia Today. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the carnage, which targeted the Bataclan concert hall, various cafes and restaurants, and the Stade de France stadium. The horror of that night has cast a long shadow, shaping the lives of survivors and families, altering the nation’s sense of security, and continuing to challenge France’s approach to terrorism.
For survivors like Eva, the physical and psychological scars remain all too real. Eva, who was celebrating her best friend’s birthday at the Belle Equipe restaurant that night, was hit by multiple bullets and ultimately lost her leg below the knee. "I have a huge scar on my arm," she told France24, sharing her story publicly for the first time. She wears a prosthesis and navigates life with determination, but admits, "life isn’t easy every day." The trauma has changed her habits—she still enjoys Paris’s vibrant cafe terraces, but will "never again" sit with her back to the street.
The attacks also left psychological wounds that have proven even harder to heal. Bilal Mokono, wounded by a suicide bomber near the Stade de France, lost the use of his legs and is deaf in one ear. "It haunts us," he told AFP, describing years of sleepless nights and lingering dread. For many, the anniversary brings not closure, but a resurgence of pain and anxiety.
The human toll extends beyond the immediate victims. Families like that of Sophie Dias, whose father Manuel Dias was the sole fatality at the stadium, struggle with daily absence. "We feel his absence every day," she said, emphasizing the importance of remembrance. Others, like Fabien Petit, who lost his brother-in-law at the Bonne Biere cafe, have had to find their own paths through grief. "We can’t just relive November 13 over and over," he reflected. "The trial helped though," he added, referring to the lengthy legal proceedings that brought some measure of justice and public reckoning.
That trial, which stretched over ten months in 2021 and 2022, ended with the only surviving attacker, Salah Abdeslam, sentenced to life imprisonment. Former French president Francois Hollande, who was present at the Stade de France when the attacks began, testified at the trial and later told AFP, "We are a democracy, and democracy always wins in the end." Hollande’s leadership during the crisis, including his somber declaration that France was "at war" with the jihadists, remains etched in the national memory.
Yet the struggle to move forward is ongoing. Some survivors, like chemist Guillaume Valette and graphic novelist Fred Dewilde, battled psychological trauma for years before taking their own lives. Their names have since been added to commemorative plaques around Paris, a poignant reminder that the costs of terror extend far beyond the initial night. According to psychiatrist Thierry Baubet, resources for treating psychological trauma have improved in France since 2015, but remain uneven. "Even today, there are victims of the November 13 attacks who are struggling and have not sought care," he told AFP, stressing that it is "never too late."
The sense of community among survivors and families has become a lifeline for many. Aurelie Silvestre, whose partner Matthieu Giroud was killed at the Bataclan while she was pregnant, found solace in writing. "I feel like writing allows me to collect some of the debris and piece it back together," she said. Her world, she explained, is now "80 percent" made up of other victims, with whom she can share both laughter and tears.
As the city prepares to mark the somber milestone, commemorative ceremonies are planned across Paris, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to speak, according to Free Malaysia Today. These events aim not only to honor the victims but also to reaffirm the nation’s unity and resilience. The Bataclan, where nearly 90 people were killed during a concert by the Eagles of Death Metal, remains the most widely recognized site of the attacks, though historian Denis Peschanski has observed that public memory of the multiple attack locations is fading with time.
To help preserve these memories, a Terrorism Memorial Museum is scheduled to open in 2029. The museum will house around 500 objects linked to the attacks and their victims, including a concert ticket from a mother who lost her only daughter at the Bataclan and the bullet-riddled menu board from La Belle Equipe. These artifacts, curated with the help of bereaved families, aim to ensure that future generations understand both the horror and the humanity of that night.
Not all families feel fully included in these official acts of remembrance. Nadia Mondeguer, whose daughter Lamia was killed at La Belle Equipe, described to Free Malaysia Today her mixed emotions about the anniversary. "I’ve been feeling like a fever coming over me… the adrenaline starting to rise again," she said, expressing concern that victims are sometimes treated as "spectators" in their own tragedy. Still, she acknowledged the importance of gathering with others who share her loss—her "extended family."
The threat of terrorism has not vanished in the decade since. In a chilling echo of 2015, French anti-terror prosecutors recently charged and jailed three young women, all around 20 years old, suspected of plotting a jihadist attack in Paris. As reported by RFI and GB News, the women are accused of criminal terrorist association with intent to commit acts of violence. One of the suspects, described as an "influencer" with a significant following on TikTok, allegedly posted pro-jihadist content and discussed possible targets, including a concert hall or bar in Paris. Police intervention, aided by digital monitoring and early warnings, averted what authorities called the "first attempted violent action involving women in some time."
National anti-terror prosecutor Olivier Christen warned AFP that the jihadist threat remains "the most significant, both in scale and in the level of operational readiness," and has been "growing" over the past three years. As France marks this anniversary, security services remain on high alert. In early November 2025, three people were also in custody in connection with a suspected terror threat linked to Salah Abdeslam, demonstrating the ongoing vigilance required to prevent further tragedies.
For survivors like Roman, who lived through the attack on the Belle Equipe restaurant, the anniversary is a call to educate and remember. Now a teacher, he is determined that "young people know what happened to us," hoping that history lessons can help prevent future violence. "Sometimes, we feel forgotten," he admitted to France24, underscoring the importance of collective memory.
As Paris gathers to honor the victims and reflect on a decade of resilience, the scars—both visible and invisible—remain a testament to the enduring impact of that night. Yet, in the face of recurring threats and personal loss, the city’s commitment to remembrance and unity endures, reminding all that the fight against terror is as much about preserving humanity as it is about ensuring security.
