It had been just been another Friday night in the city of light. There was dancing and drinking; music, football, and revelry. The 129 victims of Friday night’s terrorist attack could have had no idea that their lives were about to be brutally cut short.
The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, said on Sunday that more than 100 of those who died in the worst attack on French soil since the second world war had been identified. An official list had yet to be circulated and 20 to 30 more bodies were still awaiting identification, he said.
“These are not anonymous victims. They are lives, young people, who have been targeted while they spent a quiet evening in a café, or at a concert,” Valls told reporters outside the École Militaire, where a centre had been set up for the victims’ families.
“No psychologist, no volunteer, no doctor can console them,” he said of the relatives. “But we must help them with the process, with identifications, to accompany them ... through all the administrative tasks.”
The details that have emerged about those killed have painted a picture of an indiscriminate attack by killers who targeted victims regardless of race, colour or creed.
In a city as international as Paris, it was inevitable the pain of the attacks would be spread across the world and the Guardian has so far counted people of 12 nationalities killed in the violence. These are just some of them:
Amine Ibnolmobarak (Benmbarek), 28, Morocco
Ibnolmobarak was with his wife, Maya, at the terrace of the Carillon bar when gunmen opened fire. She was shot three times and is in a critical condition in hospital, according to CNN and tributes on Facebook.
Born in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, Ibnolmobarak – named in some reports as Benmbarek – was an architect and teacher at the ENSA Paris-Malaquais architecture school, from which he graduated in 2012 after an architectural study on the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Parisian Observatory of Tactical Urbanism wrote on Facebook that Ibnolmobarak died “at the terrace of the carillon where we had frequently pleasure to find him.”
The post added: “We’re thinking of him, his friends, his family, and especially his young woman, who was with him last night and is currently hospitalised.”
His former teacher, M Jean Attali, paid tribute in a Facebook post, writing: “Thank you all for your heartfelt thoughts after the tragedy that saw the killing of Amine Ibnolmobarak, a young Muslim intellectual, who blew us away with the amazing graduate study he conducted on the pilgrimage to Mecca: a testimony of his faith, his sense in working on great popular gatherings, and a testimony of his intelligence and accomplishment.”
Asta Diakite, France
Diakite’s death in the attacks was confirmed by her cousin, the former footballer in the English Premier League Lassana Diarra, who was part of the French team playing Germany on the night. “She was a guide, a support and a big sister to me,” he said.
Diarra was on the field at the Stade de France as the tragic and violent events began – with a bomb blast right outside the stadium – before unfolding across the French capital.
The players were not told of the crisis until after the final whistle and Diarra was on the field up until the 80th minute, when he was substituted.
The midfielder, who plays for Marseille, added: “In this climate of terror, it is important for all of us who are representatives of our country and its diversity, to speak and to remain united against a horror that has no colour, no religion.”
Nick Alexander (36), United Kingdom
Alexander, of Colchester, Essex, had been selling merchandise for Eagles of Death Metal when the Bataclan concert hall, where the band were performing, was attacked.
His girlfriend, Polina Buckley, used Twitter to search for him after news of violence broke. “Someone please help me find my boyfriend Nick Alexander. Merch guy for EODM #ParisAttacks #Bataclan,” she wrote.
Alexander’s former girlfriend Helen Wilson was at the Bataclan with him and said they had lain on the ground when the attackers started shooting. Wilson was injured in both legs and Alexander was shot in front of her.
“His back was to me and I couldn’t see what happened and I tried to keep him talking and then I tried to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and they [the gunmen]were just sort of in the shadows and they would shoot if anyone said anything,” she said.
“Then he couldn’t breathe any more and I held him in my arms and told him I loved him. He was the love of my life.”
Alexander, who attended Colchester Royal grammar school before studying at a university in Liverpool, used to run a monthly club night at Colchester arts centre.
Speaking to the BBC, the centre’s director Anthony Roberts said Alexander had been well-known in the town. “Nick came to us as a very young guy with the idea of running a club night – like a lot of young people did – but there was something about his personality and energy,” he said.
“He was the creator, instigator, DJ and the personality of the club night. He was a particularly lively and driven character and had a lot of charm, but could back it up by being clever.”
A tribute night called Peace, Love and Understanding is to be held at the centre at a later date.
Alexander had been part of the Africa Express music project, founded by Blur’s Damon Albarn and journalist Ian Birrell, in 2012. Birrell tweeted: “He loved music, lived with a smile on his face, died a hero.”
Drummer Patrick Carney from American rock band the Black Keys told Rolling Stone: “I spent a lot of time with Nick, but the thing about the touring merch job, it’s one of the more thankless jobs. You do it because you just want to travel and you’re interested in meeting new people and it’s really hard work. It’s not the job you take if you’re into partying.
“He was a really organised, super-hard worker, really funny. I remember him always very content with being on tour. It was what seems to make him the happiest. After shows, when everyone would go wild or whatever, he would also be really reserved. He was just a sweetheart, that guy.
“I remember he looked more like a rock star than anyone else on the tour, in the best possible sense. He never complained. He was more interested in touring than anybody else that was on tour at any given point.”
Joe Trohman, lead guitarist of the rock band Fall Out Boy, described Alexander as a “great guy”.
Alexander’s family released a statement on Saturday in which they said “he died doing the job he loved.”
Colchester borough council leader Paul Smith said the flag had been raised over the town hall as a “mark of solidarity” with the French. “Our thoughts naturally go out to all of those whose lives have been tragically affected and altered by these terrible events, and in particular to the family and friends of Colchester citizen Nick Alexander,” he told the BBC.
The bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell said he had sent a message to the family of Alexander, who was an altar boy at St Andrew’s parish church in Weeley, saying: “We are standing alongside you in your grief and praying for you in your loss.”
Elodie Breuil (23), France
Breuil had travelled from Boulogne to attend the Eagles of Death Metal concert with a group of friends. One, speaking anonymously to Time magazine, said he became separated from her and the others when the shooting began.
He ran for the exit with another man who had been nearby, but that man was shot and he fell. Once outside, Breuil’s friend reunited with some of the group, but Breuil and one other were missing.
“Can you imagine?” Breuil’s brother, Alexis, said. “One day you’re just a happy teenager, playing video games. The next you’re laying in a pool of blood with corpses all around you.”
Aurélie De Peretti (33), France
De Peretti, who worked at a beach resort in her home town of Saint-Tropez, had travelled to Paris with a friend for the weekend to see Eagles of Death Metal.
As she enjoyed the music, her sister, Delphine, was at a theatre in London. Delphine had just checked her phone after going outside for a cigarette when she learned of the attack. “I knew Aurélie was there, because she’d posted on Facebook that she wanted to go hear that group,” she told Time.
Frantic calls to her sister went unanswered; their parents had gone to bed early and had not even heard of the attacks. So Delphine jumped on the first train to Paris at 5am on Saturday, where she arrived to find her grieving mother at Gare du Nord. Paris police had already called to confirm that Aurélie was dead.
“They told us my sister was dead but they did not let us see her,” Delphine told the New York Times from outside the town hall for the 11th arrondissement. “I am like a robot. I don’t know what to do next. I have not watched the news or slept since last night.”
Their father, Jean-Marie de Peretti, also there, told Time: “She was luminous.”
Guillaume Decherf (43), France
Decherf, a music critic, was at the gig after writing a review of their most recent album for the French culture magazine Les Inrockuptibles.
The magazine confirmed the death of the father-of-two at the concert in a standfirst to the review, published online. A tribute published on its website added: “All the newspaper is shocked by his death. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Thomas Ayad (32), France
Ayad, from Amiens, northern France, was a product manager for the French division of the Eagles of Death Metal’s record label, Universal Music. He had got tickets to the concert at the Bataclan for himself and a couple of friends, two of whom have also lost their lives.
Lucian Grainge, chair of the Universal Music Group, wrote to staff to confirm the news of Ayad’s death. Grainge’s letter, reprinted in the LA Times, said: “This is an unspeakably appalling tragedy. I cannot even begin to express the depth of my sorrow. On behalf of everyone here at UMG, we extend our most profound sympathies to his parents and all of his friends and family.”
Marie Mosser (24), France
Mosser, who worked with band The Vamps, was killed alongside Thomas Ayad. The Vamps posted on Facebook: “We want to pass on our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Thomas and Marie who were a huge part of The Vamps team in France and who tragically passed away Friday night in Paris. They will be sorely missed by us and all that knew them. Brad, James, Connor and Tristan.”
Manu Perez, France
Before walking into the Bataclan on Friday night, Perez posted a picture on Facebook of two tickets for the gig. “Merci Thomas!” he wrote, linking the post to Ayad’s Facebook profile.
At 9.03pm, the Parisian, who also worked for Universal, posted a second picture showing the crowd and the band on stage. On Saturday, the president of Universal Music France, Pascal Negre, tweeted to confirm that Perez, Ayad, and Mosser were among the dead.
On Sunday, Axel Bauer, the French singer, who Perez worked with at Polydor, posted a tribute on Facebook saying: “He was a good guy, Manu. My heart goes to his family and his close ones.”
Valentin Ribet (26), France
Ribet was a criminal lawyer at law firm Hogan Lovells and graduate of the London School of Economics. He was killed at the Bataclan.
Ribet’s company described him as “a talented lawyer, extremely well liked, and a wonderful personality in the office”. It added: “This is an awful tragedy and hard for any of us to truly comprehend. We are shocked by both our loss and the wider events in the city.”
Luis Felipe Zschoche Valle (35), Chile
A Chilean national, resident in Paris for the past eight years, Zschoche had gone to see Eagles of Death Metal with his French wife, according to the Chilean foreign ministry. He was a professional musician, with his own band called Captain America.
Officials said they had been informed of his death by the French foreign ministry. The name of his wife and details of her whereabouts are not yet known.
Elsa DelPlace, France and Patricia San Marti (55), Chile
DelPlace, a French citizen, died with her mother, Patricia San Marti, at the Bataclan, according to reports. DelPlace was a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Supérieures des Arts. A biography on her business website said she was a cellist with a degree in communications and cultural project management.
Chile’s foreign ministry said in a statement that San Martin was the niece of Chile’s ambassador to Mexico.
Elif Dogan and Miko Jozic, Belgium
Jozic, an engineer, had moved to Paris from Liege with Dogan, his new partner, just four months ago. Jozic leaves a daughter, Laureline, 22. His former partner, named as Ingrid, told La Meuse: “We do not want to sink in anger ... but how not to do it. It’s hard to stay that way, in a vacuum.”
Valeria Solesin (28), Italy
Valeria Solesin, a student from Venice, was killed at the Bataclan concert hall. The Italian government confirmed the death of the 28-year-old on Sunday.
“The foreign ministry has informed the family, to which it expressed its deepest condolences for the painful loss, which touches the whole country and all Italians,” the government said.
When the attack took place, Solesin had been standing at the entrance of the Bataclan with her boyfriend, older sister and her sibling’s boyfriend, all of whom escaped unhurt.
Solesin had been living in Paris for a number of years, writing a demography PhD at Pantheon-Sorbonne University. “We will miss her a lot and I think, seeing the path she was taking, she will also be missed by our country for the talents she had,” Solesin’s mother, Luciana Milani, told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Fabrice Dubois (46), France
Described by friends as a “gentle giant”, 6ft 5in Dubois was an obvious easy target for terrorists who stormed the Bataclan as he stood in the moshpit. The design copywriter from Melan, who worked for the advertising agency Publicis Conseil, leaves behind two children aged 13 and 11, Paris Match reports. “He was an extremely gentle, shy one, a model father and a good son,” his sister, Nathalie, told the magazine.
Michelli Gil Jaimez (27), Mexico
Mexican officials identified one victim as Michelli Gil Jaimez, who they said came from the port city of Tuxpan in Veracruz. Her Facebook page says she got engaged in late October.
“Family and friends, the Mexican embassy in France, confirmed to us that my cousin Michelli Gil Jaimez was one of those killed in the terrorist attack yesterday in the city of Paris, where she lived,” wrote her cousin, Felix Jose Gil Herrera, on Facebook.
Nohemi Gonzalez (23), US-Mexico
California State University confirmed on Saturday that one of its students, 23-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez, had been killed. A Mexican official later said Gonzalez had held joint Mexican-US citizenship.
The mayor of Long Beach, Robert Garcia, said on Twitter: “Nohemi Gonzalez was part of our city community – we will ensure that her memory is honored and that her family has our full support. The entire Long Beach community mourns the loss of Nohemi Gonzalez. Prayers for her family, friends, and her @CSULB family.”
According to Gonzalez’s Facebook page, she lived in Whittier, California, a city of 87,000 in eastern Los Angeles, before moving to Long Beach. Paying tribute to Gonzalez, Cal State design department lecturer Michael LaForte said on Facebook: “Yesterday, one of our students and a dear friend to many classmates, Nohemi Gonzalez, was senselessly murdered by Isis cowards in Paris. Our hearts are with her close friends and family.”
Cedric Mauduit, France
Mauduit worked for the Calvados county council. Jean Léonce Dupont, the chairman of the department in which Mauduit worked, said his colleague had gone to the Bataclan with five friends and became the target of “indiscriminate terrorism”. “Our sadness is immense,” he said in a statement.
Halima Saadi (37), France
Halima Saadi, from Creusot, and her sister, Houda, were enjoying a night out to celebrate a birthday with their brother and friends at La Belle Equipe.
Halima was cut down when the gunmen opened fire at the cafe. Initial reports claimed her sister Houda had also been killed, but Le Parisien reported on Sunday morning that she was very seriously injured but not confirmed dead, citing a relative who said she was still missing.
Halima leaves behind two children aged three and six.
Kheirddine Sahbi (29), Algeria
Nicknamed “Didine” by his friends, Sahbi was a violinist who had come to Paris to study at the Sorbonne.
Marie Lausch (23), and Mathias Dymarski (22), France
Lausch and Dymarski were killed at the Bataclan, according to a friend on Twitter.
Clara Regigny initially posted under the #rechercheParis hashtag, looking for information on her friends, who she had not heard from.
About eight hours later she tweeted: “The search is over, I have no words, only tears. Marie and Mathias have left us both,” she said.
Loved ones gathered in Metz to remember the couple, Le Republicain Lorraine reported.
Alberto González Garrido (29), Spain
Garrido, an engineer from Madrid, became separated from his wife in the chaos of the shooting, the Daily Mail reported. The Spanish deputy prime minister confirmed the news with El Diario, and said the family were aware. According to his Facebook page, Garrido played for the Joven Orquesta Sinfónica de Granada (Granada Youth Symphony Orchestra).
Francois-Xavier Prevost (26), France
La Voix du Nord reports Prevost was killed at the Bataclan. The paper said Prevost, who hailed from Lambersart, attended the concert with two friends who managed to escape. The University of North Texas said Prevost had attended there as an exchange student in 2007, and offered its condolences.
Manuel Dias (63), Portugal
L’union named a 63-year-old Portuguese taxi driver as a victim in one of the explosions at the Stade de France as Manuel Dias. The paper said he left behind a wife and two children.
The Sporting Clube de Portugal paid its respects to Dias, and described him as a man who headed to Paris “looking for a better life”.
Véronique Geoffroy de Bourgies, France
De Bourgies, killed at a restaurant on rue de Charonne, was the president of a humanitarian foundation, Zazakely Sambatra in Madagascar. Her husband, Stéphane, was in China at the time of the attack and confirmed De Bourgies’ death on Facebook.
Djamila Houd (41), France
Houd was killed at rue de Charonne in Paris, according to newspaper l’Echo Republicain. Houd was from the city of Dreux, west of Paris, and still had strong family and friendship ties there, but had lived in Paris to build her career, the paper said.
According to Facebook posts from grieving friends, she had worked for Isabel Marant, a prestigious Paris-based ready-to-wear house.
Luis Felipe Zschoche Valle (35), Chile
The 35-year-old guitarist with Paris band Captain Americano, was killed at the Bataclan. He had been living in Paris for eight year, according to La Tercera which cited the Chilean ministry of foreign affairs in confirming Valle’s death.
Valle’s bandmates posted a photo of him on stage to their Facebook page.
Pierre Innocenti (40), France
Innocenti ran the Chez Livio restaurant in Paris. He was killed at the Bataclan. Innocenti had posted a picture of the venue’s entrance on Facebook, captioned “Rock!”
Stephane Albertini, France
Albertini, a friend and co-restaurateur of Innocenti, was also killed at the Bataclan. Regular patrons of Chez Livio have paid tribute to the two men, according to Le Parisien.
Quentin Mourier, France
The death of Mourier, an architect, was confirmed by his employer, Vergers Urbains, on Twitter. “VU has just lost one of its most active members,” it said. “He will be missed.
Thomas Duperron, France
Duperron’s death at the Bataclan has been apparently confirmed by family members on Facebook, and reported by magazine Les InRocks. According to the magazine, Duperron was responsible for communications for a Paris concert venue, La Maroquinerie.
Philippe Duperron wrote that he and Chantal, together with Nicolas and Gwen, “the parents of Thomas” “want to send thanks to all you who mobilized so many to try to find him”.
All his friends around him. His friends were so much to him. Thank you to all.”
Caroline Prénat (24), France
Prénat’s death at the Bataclan was reported by a friend online.
Prénat had attended the gig with friends including Emile Thoreens, who escaped through a fire escape, the Daily Mail reported. She had gone to the bathrooms just moments before the shooting began.
“I decided, if I stay here, they’re going to find me. I just ran out and found an exit door,” she said.
“Once I was outside, I tried to contact my friends who were still inside. I came back towards the entrance and the shooting started again. I don’t know if they were shooting people trying to get out but they were still shooting and shooting. I ran away.”
Hugo Sarrade (23), France
Sarrade had travelled from Montpellier to attend the concert at the Bataclan, where he was killed. His father and best friend spoke to Midi Libre, and said the young man had “a lot of humour and tenderness”.
Sarrade had marched in Montpellier following the Charlie Hebdo and market attacks.
His father, Stéphane, said Sarrade was “extremely open to others and other cultures; He loved discussions, debates. He had ... found his way. A balance. He and I were very close.”
Guardian