'Significant change in targets': Dunedin woman

A sign of defiance. Photo by Reuters
A sign of defiance. Photo by Reuters
A Dunedin woman was two blocks away when terrorists opened fire on a Paris restaurant.

The former University of Otago student will stay in Paris but her birthday celebration today will be subdued as she wonders how daily life in the city will change after the ''horrifying'' attacks.

Rebecca Grant (27), the daughter of Southern District Health Board commissioner Kathy Grant, was in Paris when the terrorists co-ordinated attacks across Paris.

When they opened fire at restaurant La Belle Equipe, about 9.30pm on Friday, she was at a friend's flat, two blocks away.

When she heard the gunfire, she was unaware of what was happening until she received a news alert on her smartphone about the attacks.

She messaged family members to assure them she was safe. In the apartment, she closed the curtains and stayed transfixed to the news until 3am, before going to bed.

On waking a few hours later, she opened the curtains and the streets were deserted.

''There was an eerie silence. Usually that area on a Saturday is full with people.''

The public transport resumed at noon and people began moving into the streets.

Nobody she knew was killed or injured in the attacks.

She had never dined at La Belle Equipe but ate regularly at the Cambodian restaurant, Le Petit Cambodge, where terrorists also opened fire.

The restaurant's glass facade would have made the diners easy targets, she said. The randomness of the attack was ''horrifying''.

''The targets of these attacks were everyday French citizens who have nothing to do with what's happening in Syria, and I think it marks a significant change in the targets.''

Miss Grant - who is studying at Science Po, the Paris Institute of Political Studies, intended to remain in Paris for at least another six months to complete her master's degree in international development.

''The goal of terrorist attacks is to make you scared and make you change the way you live your life.

''The only way to defeat that is to refuse to be scared and refuse to change your life and that is the approach you have to take.''

However, she intended to avoid big gatherings in Paris for a time.

Life in Paris would be different, but it had been since January, when 11 people were killed by terrorists at French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

''There was a difference in everyday security, but that didn't prevent someone driving past a restaurant and opening fire, so obviously there has to be another increase in the level of security.''

Mrs Grant was in Paris visiting her daughter when terrorists stormed Charlie Hebdo and yesterday said it had been very unsettling.

Miss Grant said it had been nice having her mother in Paris at that time.

''When something like that happens, it's nice to have your family around you, but this time it makes the distance between Paris and Dunedin seem very large,'' she said.

-shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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