A clearer picture is emerging of the police operation at the Bataclan music venue.
The intensity of the fire directed at police in the hall could be seen after the commando unit released a picture of a bullet-riddled riot shield.
Meanwhile, the authorities reopened the roads around the club, where 89 people lost their lives. The market on the next street had also begun trading again. Here and there were unofficial memorials, with photos of the dead placed among candles and private messages.
A poster for the gig by Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage when the jihadists struck, still hangs outside. Someone had hung a banner from the upper windows of the venue which read, “La liberté est un monument indestructible”.
Possibly a result of the poor weather, there were as many television crews camped outside the Bataclan as there were people paying their respects.
One woman had left her desk at work to visit the scene. “I was in the Stade de France on Friday night and wanted to come here this morning to pay tribute to those that died,” said Aremelle. “I used to live close by and I think coming and seeing where it happened helps me to understand,” she added.
Police have now released details of the final stages of the siege. Inside the club, over a 50-minute period, five mobile phonecalls were exchanged between a police negotiator and the gunmen.
At about 12.20am, police threw six hand grenades at the jihadists, who immediately returned fire, much of which impacted on a single riot shield, which has now attained its own status among members of the BRI, France’s hostage unit. It was hit by 27 bullets while it helped to protect 18 members of the police team.
