New Zealanders in Paris have described horror and confusion as at least 120 people were killed in multiple attacks in the French capital. MFAT has updated its SafeTravel website and Kiwis travelling to and from France face major disruptions, as the borders have been closed.
France has declared a nationwide state of emergency after the suspected terrorist attacks, with a provisional death toll of 128 according to a source at the prosecutor's office.
New Zealanders studying and working in France have voiced their concerns and condolences in the wake of the attacks on busy restaurants, bars and a concert hall on Friday night (local time). MFAT has confirmed the number of Kiwis registered as being in France has risen in the past few hours from 249 to 279.
At least 100 people were reported to have died at the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris following a hostage situation. Others were killed in attacks at restaurants, and near the Stade de France stadium, as France played Germany in a football match.
But as the horror unfolded, the City of Light responded with outpourings of humanitarian and benevolent gestures. Taxis were turning off their meters to help move people around Paris with the Metro underground rail system being shut down.
And Parisians were opening their doors to people who couldn't get home, spreading the word on social media.
People just started to panic: NZ couple
New Zealand couple Nick Holden and Jane Man were dining at Au Passage, just around the corner from the Bataclan, when the attacks took place.
"We were eating dinner at a restaurant in the 3rd (Arrondisement) ... and a waitress told us she had seen someone shot who she thought was by a terrorist and she was obviously very upset.
"We have been in situations like this in the past so we decided we should probably leave the restaurant and so we left but as we decided to leave it was clear there was a much bigger story going on," he said.
"People said we should move in a certain direction so we left the restaurant and headed south and as we started to walk the police sirens got louder and we heard a lot of whistles directing people to move in a certain way."
The duo said panicked people began running away from the Place de la Republique, a square in Paris located near the Bataclan.
"We stopped and we looked up towards [the square] and we kind of stopped for a while ... and we thought everything had died down but then people just started to panic," Mr Holden said.
"From the cafe that was beside us people jumped up and literally just ran from their tables so we ran away as well."
Mr Holden, who was holidaying in Paris, described the initial situation was "strangely calm" but waves of panic began "coming over Paris".
"This was very relaxed. There wasn't any urgency to it. But as we walked away, you would walk 200m people were calm and seemed to have no idea what was going on but then two minutes later it would be panic and people would start to run ... so there was this kind of slowly forming panic coming over Paris," he said. "It wasn't scary in that there as imminent danger but it was scary in that it was confusing."
Apoorva Kolluru, an Aucklander in Paris, heard two of the shootings, one of which happened near her apartment. She said she was safe, but couldn't get home. Ms Kolluru was near the Petit Cambodge restaurant attack, and lived in the 11th Arrondisement, near Boulevard Voltaire.
"There've been several shootings around the city. There was one close to where I was having dinner, and then while I was walking home, one close to where I live," Ms Kolluru added.
"Immediately everybody hoped that it was a car backfiring, or fireworks or something. But it turned out that there were shootings...they kicked everyone out of the restaurant."
Sirens could be heard in the background as Ms Kolluru explained the situation. "There's a lot of ambulances and police at the moment," she told NZME News Service.
Ms Kolluru was staying in an apartment with other New Zealanders. She understood all her friends in Paris were safe, based on texts she'd received.
NZ condemns attacks
Prime Minister John Key today condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to the people and government of France.
"Our hearts go out to those involved and our thoughts with them and their families," he said.
"New Zealand stands with France in the global fight against terror and while it is too soon to attribute blame, the attacks have targeted innocent civilians and are therefore an act of terrorism.
"French authorities have not yet released the nationalities of any of the victims but consular officials in Paris and New Zealand are working to determine if any New Zealanders have been caught up," Mr Key said.
Labour Party leader Andrew Little also voiced his concerns about the "tragic news" from Paris today. Mr Little said on Twitter his thoughts were "with those whose lives have been lost and families of those caught up in the events."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its TravelSafe website/.
"New Zealanders in Paris are advised to stay indoors and keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. You should also contact your family in New Zealand to advise them that you are safe," the statement said.
"New Zealanders in France are strongly encouraged to register their details on SafeTravel."
New Zealanders who require consular assistance are advised to contact the New Zealand Embassy in Paris on: 01 45 01 43 43 (from within France) or +33 1 45 01 43 43 (from outside France). The embassy is on rue de Grenelle, in the 7th Arrondissement.
Anyone with concerns about a New Zealand family member in Paris should try to make direct contact with them in the first instance. If they had ongoing concerns, they should contact MFAT.
House of Travel has about 200 customers either leaving for France or heading back from the country.
Brent Thomas, House of Travel's commercial director, said Kiwis in Paris should register with the New Zealand Embassy and keep in contact with their airlines and travel agents about changes to travel plans.
Kiwis travelling to France from New Zealand over the next few days would probably be offered alternative itineraries, he said.
"Thankfully it is the low season so we do not have too many people going back and forward to Paris at the moment," Thomas said.
"If people are planning to travel to France today and that is not possible, they would clearly have to rethink their accommodation and contact their travel insurers about alternative arrangements."
Andrew Olsen, chief executive of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand, said the situation in Paris was "ugly".
"Kiwis over there should be checking in with their consulates and letting them know where they are," he said.
"Anyone who hasn't yet departed for France from New Zealand should check with their travel agent about their terms and conditions and what alternative arrangements may have to be made to their travel plans and accommodation."
French backpackers reeling
French backpackers thousands of miles from home are reeling after today's terror attack and desperately trying to contact loved ones back home.
Physiotherapist Jeremy Gustin, 29, and friend Mathieu Marine, 30, were frantically scouring social media for word on whereabouts of family and friends this afternoon.
The pair, who had just arrived in New Zealand for a month's holiday, said they were in shock and very worried about the situation.
"It's terrible. I am just trying to see if all my contacts in Paris are okay," Mr Gustin said.
He had managed to speak to his sister who lived in Paris and was checking a special social media application that indicated if people were safe.
Mr Gustin said his thoughts were with those who were caught up in the attacks.
"I would like to say to all French people we are thinking about them."
But he now feared this second terror attack in less than a year was set to usher in a disturbing new era.
"I feel like my country is in trouble.
"We are very far away. We are very worried about the situation and wonder what we are going to go back to."
Charlotte Edelmayer, 27, said she was stunned by the news and was terrified at the direction of her homeland.
"So many innocent people are suffering from it and being hurt by it.
"It's a lot of people who have nothing to do with the political situation."
She had been calling home and making sure she was staying in touch with developments throughout the day.
Ms Edelmayer said since the Charlie Hebdo attacks everyone had been on edge, with a growing divide between the Christian and Muslim community.
"With the elections and popularity of the National Front building at the moment it terrifies me," she said.
Maxime Champroux, 24, who lives near Paris, was desperately trying to contact his family without success.
"My family, my sister and friends live in Paris. I'm trying to contact them but I don't have any news," Mr Champroux said.
He said words were failing him and he was struggling to describe the impact of the news.
"This is awful. This is such a sad moment."
Flight interruptions
Air New Zealand has confirmed flights in and out of France may be interrupted due to heightened security measures in Paris.
Flexibility will be permitted on all fare types for Air NZ passengers scheduled to travel to and from all French airports until Friday, November 27, if they are ticketed for travel prior to and including Wednesday.
Various options are available for passengers to defer or bring travel forward, or change their destinations, the company posted on Twitter.
- NZ Herald and NZME.News Service
