Paris attacks: names and stories of the victims begin to emerge

The names of some of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris have begun to emerge, though French authorities say they are still struggling to identify more than a dozen bodies.

At least 129 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded after gunmen fired indiscriminately on cafes, bars and music venues across the capital on Friday night.

"They are not anonymous victims, they have faces, names," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said yesterday after meeting with grieving families. "We are here to show them our compassion and solidarity but above all we are here to help and support them."

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Survivors have given harrowing accounts of how they managed to escape, with many playing dead under piles of corpses.

"I lay down in the blood of strangers … waiting for my bullet," said 22-year-old survivor Isobel Bowdery, who was at the Bataclan theatre where 89 people were gunned down.

Others were not so lucky. Here are just some of the victims who lost their lives in the tragedy:

Nick Alexander, UK

The 36-year old from Essex was shot dead while selling merchandise for the Eagles of Death Metal band who were performing in the Bataclan theatre.

"Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world," his family said in a statement. His girlfriend, Polina Buckley, tweeted: "You are and always will be the love of my life."

Valentin Ribet, France

One of the first confirmed fatalities was Valentin Ribet, who was also killed at the concert hall. The 26-year old lawyer graduated last year from the London School of Economics, which confirmed his death, tweeting: "Our hearts are filled with sadness at this news."

Nohemi Gonzalez, USA

The 23-year old student from California was on a university exchange program at Strate College of Design in France. She was killed when gunmen opened fire at the Petit Cambodge restaurant, where at least a dozen people lost their lives.

"She was a shining star, and she brought joy, happiness, laughter to everybody," one of her professors told Mashable.

Marie Lausch and Mathias Dymarski, France

Marie Lausch and her boyfriend Mathias Dymarski were also killed at the rock concert.

The young couple's friend, Clara Regigny, took to social media to try and find them after the attacks, but later tweeted: "The search is over, I have no words, only tears. Marie and Mathias have left us both."

Amine Ibnolmobarak, Morocco

Moroccan architect Amine Ibnolmobarak and his wife Maya were having dinner at the Carillon terrace when the attacks began. The newlyweds both suffered gunshot wounds, but Maya survived and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Elodie Breuil, France

The 23-year-old design student had travelled from Boulogne to attend the Eagles of Death Metal concert with a group of friends. "Can you imagine?" her brother, Alexis, asked Time Magazine.

"One day you're just a happy teenager, playing video games. The next you're laying in a pool of blood with corpses all around you."