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While Sympathy Pours in on Social Media, Some Celebrate Paris Attack

Some are using the Arabic hashtag "Paris is in flames" to celebrate the attack, while others tagged statements of sympathy, or merely shared news.
Imagen por (Gregor Fischer/EPA)

Dozens of people have been killed, a number that may keep rising as new reports come in, in at least three separate gun attacks and one explosion at a soccer game in Paris, France, on Friday night. On social media, the attack is being discussed using an Arabic hashtag which translates to "Paris is in flames."

Some have used the tag to celebrate the attack — and many on Twitter quickly linked the hashtag with Islamic State sympathizers. But others are simply using the tag to share the latest news out of Paris, or to express sympathy with the victims.

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Related: Paris Counts Its Dead and Remains on Lockdown

VICE News has collected a number of tweets circulating on social media tagged with the hashtag.

The below tweet reads: God is great and thank God for these lone wolf attacks 

???? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? 40 ?????? ? 100 ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? — ???? ?????? (@hoec15)November 13, 2015

EXPLOSIONS AND SHOOTINGS…. 80 dead. And all praise is due to Allah Almighty — Wife of Shah?d (@umm_ameerah2)November 13, 2015

The tweet below reads: Oh God, burn Paris as you burned the Muslims in Mali, Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine

— ?????? (@il3wadhiq8)November 13, 2015

The below tweet reads God is great and celebrates the death of 40 people.

???? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? 40 — ??? ??????? ?????? (@xor_hallo)November 13, 2015

A number of accounts celebrating the attack were suspended within minutes of posting tweets using the hashtag.

Related: In The Streets of Paris Under Attack

But the hashtag was also used to express sympathy and circulate news.

Prayers up to Paris right now — Cameron Dylong (@CamDylong8)November 13, 2015

And after CNN anchors said on air that the hashtag was being used by IS sympathizers, some used the tag to spread Islamophobic messages.

— Jahongir Mirzoev (@PoZokhr)November 13, 2015

Not scared. You will never win. Cowardice is your philosophy and ignorance your religion — Joel José Ginga (@jjginga)November 13, 2015

Related: Paris Counts Its Dead and Remains on Lockdown