35 DEAD IN ONGOING PARIS ATTACK, 100 BEING HELD HOSTAGE

At least thirty people are dead tonight after a series of shootings and explosions in Paris.

A Kalashnikov-wielding gunman is thought to have gone on the rampage in the French capital and explosions rang out near the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Gunfire was heard inside a restaurant close to Rue Bichat, in the 10th arrondissement of the city soon after 9pm.

Shouting and screaming also rang out as the shooting began.

Several minutes later more shots were fired at live music Bataclan near Place de la Republique which is a short walk away.

Up to 100 people are understood to be held hostage at the venue where Eagles of Death Metal were due to play to a big crowd.

As anti-terrorist police flooded the area, an officer on the scene warned "the gunman is suspected to be still on the loose. People should leave the area."

One man on Twitter said his friend escaped Bataclan where five or six unmasked shooters fired for about five minutes.

It is reported one of the shooters mentioned Syria as they unleashed rounds on innocents.