Paris, France — Ten years after the Nov. 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris, survivors like Djamel Cheboub continue to grapple with the physical and emotional scars, even as public memory of the events fades. Cheboub, who was at La Belle Équipe cafe when gunmen opened fire, lost his right foot to a bullet, suffered severe injuries to his left arm, and spent 18 months hospitalized. Despite these traumas, he has slowly rebuilt his life, starting a business in Iceland and raising a family.
The coordinated attacks by Islamic State militants, which included shootings at cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall, killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. Surveys reveal that public awareness of the specific sites of the attacks has declined sharply over the decade. In 2024, 31 percent of people could not identify all three key locations, compared with just 3 percent in 2016.
To honor the victims and preserve memory, France has organized a series of commemorations, exhibits, and documentaries. A commemorative garden in central Paris, with granite blocks representing the targeted locations, will be inaugurated, and a dedicated terrorism museum is planned for the future.
Researchers, including historian Denis Peschanski, note a dual phenomenon: while Nov. 13 remains the most remembered terrorist attack in France, many key details have been forgotten. Some survivors find this disheartening. American survivor Mandy Palmucci, present at La Belle Équipe that night, expressed frustration that other attack sites are often overlooked, though she acknowledges society must eventually move forward.
The attacks also reshaped French security and society. Military police patrol public spaces, and antiterrorism laws were expanded. Yet survivors face ongoing struggles with trauma. Neuropsychologist Francis Eustache and colleagues have been studying post-traumatic stress among survivors, investigating why some develop lasting disorders while others recover more fully.
For Cheboub, healing has been gradual. He now lives in a handicapped-equipped apartment in Paris, has a daughter, and channels his recovery through work and nature. He chooses not to share the full story of his experience with his young child, hoping to protect her from fear until she is older.
“The memories often come back. That will never change,” he said, reflecting on the enduring impact of the attacks. At the same time, he recognizes the importance of allowing society to remember, reflect, and eventually move forward, even as survivors carry the weight of history firsthand.
