Video: How night of terror unfolded in Paris

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• Two explosions were heard near the Stade de France, where Francois Hollande was watching France play Germany in an international football friendly, at around 8.30pm UK time.

• Around one hour later there were reports of a shooting at the Petit Cambodge restaurant, about five miles away from the Stade de France.

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• By 10pm, French Police had confirmed that at least 18 people had been killed. Meanwhile, there were also reports of shootings near the Bataclan theatre, south of the restaurant.

• Within ten minutes, police officials confirmed that the death toll had risen to at least 26 people, 15 of whom were killed in the Bataclan theatre. They also said that an ongoing hostage crisis had developed at the theatre, which was hosting a performance by Eagles Of Death Metal, an American rock band. Between 60 and 100 people were reportedly being held hostage.

• At around 11pm, President Hollande placed the whole of France under a state of emergency and announced that the country’s borders had been closed. It followed confirmation that the death toll had risen to 42 people and a statement from Barack Obama, who said: “We stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism.”

• Around 20 minutes later, French police confirmed two suicide attacks and one bombing near the Stade de France stadium. At least three people were believed to have died in those attacks near the stadium. Soon after that, there were reports of shots and explosions at the Bataclan theatre.

• As the French military were photographed making their way into the centre of Paris, the police outside the Bataclan theatre stormed the building shortly after 10.30pm. Police officials confirmed the security forces had launched an assault on the theatre and two attackers had been killed.

• One official described “carnage” inside the building, saying the attackers had thrown explosives at the hostages, and it was confirmed that at least 100 people were killed inside the Bataclan theatre. That number was later reported to be 80.

• A Paris city hall spokesman confirmed shots were fired in at least two restaurants. A witness of the attack at the theatre described a scene which “looked like a battlefield”. He told the Guardian: “The police told us to run.”

• At around midnight a formal state of emergency was declared. It had initially been reported that borders would be closed but officials later confirmed they were instead re-instating border security checks.

• The Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said the death toll in the attacks, said to have been at six sites across the capital, could rise above 120.

• Former American vice-president Al Gore was in Paris at the time, and said he would be suspending a broadcast of an event he was due to hold there.

• Shortly after 1am Paris police confirm attackers at the Bataclan, who were wearing suicide belts, blew themselves up as police raided the venue. Before entering the concert hall and taking those inside hostage they had sprayed the cafes outside the hall with gunfire.

• At around 1.40am police said they believed all the attackers involved in the string of attacks were dead. They added that a hunt was underway for possible accomplices.

• Shortly after 3am President Hollande visited the Bataclan. Speaking about the fight against those responsible for attacking the country he said: “We will lead the fight. We will be merciless.”

• Around 3.30am the Paris prosecutor’s office said eight attackers had been killed, seven of them in suicide bombings. A spokeswoman added that it is possible there are terrorists still at large.

• President Obama called President Hollande to offer condolences on behalf of the American people, and reiterate the country’s support for the investigation into what happened.

• Shortly after 6am Downing Street said David Cameron would chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee.

• Mark Rowley, Scotland Yard’s assistant commissioner for specialist operations in London, said there would be a heightened police presence at British ports and major events over the coming days in response to the massacres.

• A manhunt for accomplices of the gunmen was launched after Parisian authorities warned it was possible more terrorists could be on the run.

• At around 10am Mr Hollande confirmed the death toll had climbed to 127, declaring there would be three days of national mourning. He confirmed terror group Islamic State (IS) was behind the attacks, which he called “an act of war”, saying they had been organised and planned from abroad.

• IS claimed responsibility, saying in a statement issued in Arabic and French that the attackers had targeted “the capital of abominations and perversions and those who carry the crusader banner in Europe”.

In an apparent reference to France’s participation in air strikes against IS strongholds in Syria, the statement continued: “France and those who follow the same path must know that they will remain the principal targets of Islamic State and will continue to smell the scent of death for having ... struck Muslims in the territory of the caliphate with their aircraft.”

• At midday Mr Cameron warned the UK “must be prepared for a number of British casualties”, and condemned the “brutal and callous murderers. The Queen also sent a message of condolence to Mr Hollande, saying she and the Duke of Edinburgh had been “deeply shocked and saddened by the terrible loss of life in Paris”.

• Shortly before 3pm local police said one of the bombers was a young Frenchman flagged for links with Islamic extremism.

MORE COVERAGE OF THE PARIS TERROR ATTACKS