On November 13, 10 years after the attack in Paris that killed 130 people and injured more than 400 others, France held a national memorial service. Meanwhile, survivors of the tragedy are still struggling with psychological trauma every day.
"The 10th anniversary has come, the emotions and tensions are everywhere for us survivors," said Arthur Denoucles (39 years old) - President of the victims' Association "Life for Paris". He described the feeling as a "shield" that shields them from the world, as they focus on grief and remembering those who have passed away.
On November 13, 2015, nine shooters and suicide bombers of the Islamic State (IS) claimed to have attacked simultaneously for several minutes at several locations. This is the bloodiest violence to occur in France since the Second World War.
They targeted fans at the Stade de France Stadium, cafes and ended with a massacre at the Bataclan Theater that killed 90 people.
Mr. Denoucles attended the concert of the rock Eagles of Death Metal band at Bataclan. He escaped when he heard the first shot by crawling towards the nearest escape route.
He recalled having to crawl through the bodies, in which he believed that many people were pretending to be dead, but there were also people he knew for sure to be dead. After going out, he helped the band members catch a taxi.
The father of three young daughters, Denoucles said it took him a year and took him many medications to overcome the most serious stages of post-concussive stress disorder.
The main memorial service on November 13 took place in a newly created memorial garden near the Paris City Hall, with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, survivors and victims' families.
President Macron will also place wreaths at the sites of the attack. Parishioners are invited to place candles, flowers and messages at Republic Square, and the Eiffel Tower will be lit up with French flags at night.
Mr. Macron's office stated: "The country will gather to commemorate those who have passed away, show unwavering support for their loved ones, and reaffirm its commitment to fight terrorism."
A multi-month trial in 2021 - 2022 led to the sentence of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the group that carried out the attack, with an unpardonable life sentence. 19 other men involved were also sentenced.
Mr. Denoucles explained that when you survive such an attack, you will " lose connection" with the rest of the world. He described three stages of grief: Grief for the deceased, grief for the person you were to be to be to be to be, and grief for the image people imposed on you in the future.
