Having just arrived in Paris for the the upcoming COP21 climate summit, President Barack Obama's motorcade from Orly Airport made a surprise stop at the Le Bataclan music venue, one of the sites of the deadly November 13 terrorist attacks, to pay respects to the victims.
Escorted by French President François Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Obama made the visit at around 12:45 a.m. local time, according to pool reports, and wordlessly laid a rose at a large shrine of flowers and candles.
@POTUS placing a flower at memorial at the Bataclan, site of one of the #ParisAttacks. Joined by President Hollande. pic.twitter.com/mIbGzuas9W— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) November 29, 2015
Obama quitte le Bataclan, ne me remerciez pas pour les images ;) pic.twitter.com/MqOYBNjss6— Thomas Vampouille (@tomvampouille) November 29, 2015
On November 13, three gunmen with explosive vests stormed Le Bataclan during a performance by American rock band Eagles of Death Metal, killing 89 and injuring dozens more.
On Tuesday, during a visit by Hollande to Washington, D.C., Obama pledged solidarity with France, saying, "We cannot succumb to fear, nor can we allow fear to divide us. Make no mistake, we will win, and groups like ISIL will lose."