California student among those killed in Paris

An American student from the state of California was also killed in the Paris terror attacks, her university has announced.

Twenty-three-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez, a junior studying design at California State University, Long Beach, was one of the at least 129 killed in a series of bombings and shootings in Paris on Friday night. Some reports said she was 20 years old.

The university said in a in a statement on its Facebook page on Saturday that Gonzalez was studying at the Strate College of Design in Paris as part of a study abroad program this autumn.

“I’m deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Long Beach State University student Nohemi Gonzalez. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this sad time,” university President Jane Close Conoley said in the statement.

“Our university stands with our nearly eighty foreign exchange students from France as they struggle with this tragedy. We will extend all support necessary to comfort them. We will also extend support to all students, faculty and staff who are in need.”

In a separate statement, the US State Department said that some US citizens were wounded in the terrorist attacks but it did not say how many. “We are aware there are Americans among the injured, and are offering them the full range of consular assistance."

"The US government is working closely with French authorities to identify American victims,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

At least 129 people were killed in multiple coordinated attacks on Friday night in one of the deadliest assaults to hit the French capital since the World War II. Some 352 were also injured -- including 99 who are in critical condition -- when gunmen attacked restaurants, the area around a soccer stadium and a concert venue in Paris.

US President Barack Obama condemned the “outrageous” terrorist attacks in Paris, and promised the United States stands ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary to the French government and people.

Obama also called French President François Hollande Friday night. "The two leaders pledged to work together, and with nations around the world, to defeat the scourge of terrorism," the White House said in a statement.

Police in major US cities have stepped up security in the wake of the Paris attacks. Officials in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia said there was no intelligence indicating any threats, but were taking security precautions.

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