Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the series of attacks in Paris on Friday night, which left at least 128 people dead and more than 180 others injured.

In an official statement, IS stated that France was its “top target” and these attacks constituted only the “start of a storm”, the Guardian reports.

The militant group noted that it had studied carefully the locations for the attacks, which were carried out by fighters wearing suicide belts and machine guns.

The attacks were in response to the French involvement in the airstrikes on IS targets in Syria and Iraq.

French President Francois Hollande declared the attacks as constituting an “act of war organised by IS”.

The gun and bomb attacks were carried out almost simultaneously by eight gunmen at six locations across Paris.

The deadliest attack occurred at the Bataclan concert hall where many people had been held hostages before the building was stormed by security forces.

The other attacks were carried out at bars and restaurants, one of the attacks taking place near the Stade de France where a friendly football match between France and Germany was being held.

The police believes that all of the attackers have been killed, with seven of them blowing themselves up, while the eighth was shot by security forces.

However it is unclear if any accomplices are still on the run.

According to latest media reports, a Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the attackers, the BBC informs.