It was nighttime in Paris but nobody was sleeping.
Over 100 people have been confirmed dead by police after a series of frightening attacks across the French capital.
A gunman with a semi-automatic weapon has opened fire in a busy bar, there have been multiple explosions at a major football stadium where a soccer match was underway and more than 100 hostages were held in a concert hall in the eastern parts of Paris. It is believed that the gunmen executed the hostages one by one, with some managing to escape.
From what should have been an evening of champagne, soccer and symphonies, the world’s most romantic city has been shifted into a siege mentality. From the distance of a safe, sunny morning in Australia, the scale of this – still ongoing – horror is almost too large to comprehend. As journalist Jodie Speers tweeted earlier, imagine attacks on Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, the Horden Pavilion and ANZ stadium all in a single night. That is the nightmare Parisians are living this very moment.
In the wake of what appears to have been a carefully coordinated series of terrorist attacks, France has closed its borders.
A state of emergency has been declared for the first time since World War II.
The depth of this depravity, the sheer brutality with which these attacks have been conducted cannot help but leave you feeling utterly defeated. We’re watching the very worst of humanity present itself in painfully sharp technicolour on our television, computer and smart phone screens.
It’s soul destroying and yet, who can look away?
But even among immeasurable tragedy and darkness, hope somehow manages to stand its ground. And tonight, hope comes in the form of thoughts and prayers from citizens all over the world, including Parisians themselves who have started the hashtag #PorteOuverte on social media.
#PorteOuverte translates to ‘Door Open’. The hashtag is being used by Parisians offer their homes up to tourists affected by the attacks who have nowhere safe to stay. That’s right, in the midst of France’s darkest time, its people are thinking not of themselves but of the visitors they welcome so generously into their city.
It’s an incredible act of kindness, that has seen civilians publicly post their home addresses on social media and invite strangers into their living rooms. Taxi drivers are turning off their metres and continuing to offer people safe passage home. As always, the very worst of humanity has spawned some of its best.
The eyes of the world are on Paris today and our hearts are with its citizens.
We hope and pray for their safety.
Support is available for Australians with friends and family in Paris:
The Australian Embassy phone number in Paris is +33140593300 for those trying to contact friends and family in the region .
24-HOUR CONSULAR EMERGENCY HELPLINE
Within Australia: 1300 555 135
Outside Australia: +61 2 6261 3305
SMS: +61 421 269 080
Website: Getting help overseas http://smartraveller.gov.au/help/
Top Comments
Remember the conservative commentators being shouted down for suggesting that IS would be sending terrorists into Europe hidden among the wave of migrants? Well, guess what. At least one of the seven ISIL terrorists entered France via Greece and Europe FOUR weeks ago. It has taken ONE month for this massive attack to be coordinated and implemented. Look what Merkel has done. At least the French President had the guts to call the response that is coming, a "Crusade". Let's get real, folks.
Absolutely correct, Guesette. Finally someone on here showing some practicality and common sense. As sad as the Syrian situation is for legitimate refugees, our lack of proper filtering of these people has left us all open for attacks. The threat of the "trojan horse" is real, as demonstrated yesterday in Paris, and will continue unless something drastic is done.
Yes exactly. I do feel for the genuine refugees and I do want to help them but the problem is there are some amongst them who are terrorists, even if it is a small percentage they are enough to be able to cause absolute horror in our countries, so many on the left (which I consider myself a part of) are saying let them all in, and I understand their reasoning they want to help these people, but we have to look after our own safety, and this whole thing is escalating, the reality is if we let no muslim in we would not have any terrorism, and I know that not all muslims are like this, but that is the reality of the situation. For instance in the middle of WW2 we wouldn't have let Germans or Japanese into our countries when were having a war against them, because we would have known that a percentage of them would be wanting to kill us because we were at war with their countries, yet today I am good friends with people of both nationalities, so this is not to say that there are not good muslims, but we are effectively at war with their nations so how can we let them in and continue to feel safe. And before anyone shouts me down on this, I am aware that it is a small percentage but I am asking you how can we stop that percentage coming in other than shutting our borders to them? For those who want us to help refugees what is your solution to making sure we don't get an influx of terrorists? Please give us some practical ideas that we can consider? I'm not being sarcastic I really want to know how can we stop muslim terrorists coming here in the influx of refugees? I want to help the refugees but I don't want to take the risk of being the next person killed, or my family being killed.
Has the left wing who seem to be the ones who want us to let the refugees in got any practical solutions for eeking out the terrorists amongst them?
There's probably solutions I havent thought of.....but by my way of thinking, and I know how terrible this sounds, I think the only way to go is to stop all muslim immigration (despite the terrorists being in absolute minority i.e < 0.001%). This is the only way to cut down the risk and avoid them slipping through. This is the only way we can protect ourselves, and it is within our rights to want to protect our families and way of life.
I would be willing to hear any other proposals from people suggesting how we could still accept refugees and minimise the risk of unknowingly taking on radicals. At this stage, and as sad as it is, I dont see any other way around it other than stopping it altogether.
Very drawn out point, but I tend to agree - at what point is our safety worth less than the resettlement of refugees?
It is time the French, and Europeans start putting their own interests first. Attacks like this are now common. 751 suburbs in France. ( urban sensible zones) Have now become so dangerous police, ambulances and postman will not enter for them. The French deserve to feel safe in there own country.
This is absolutely not true and I would really like you to post a link with your evidence. By the way, the Charlie Hebdo terrorists were French born so curious to know how you would subscribe to the French taking care of their own in this instance
(oh, and it's 'their', not there)
That is precisely why this is so concerning Kate B - so many of these terrorists ARE home grown. They aren't integrating despite being second generation.
Kate B is agreeing with exactly what you are saying without realising it.
Yep, completely agree Linda! They (EU) need to take care of their own interests before they're in a position to help others. Otherwise, these refugees are trading one war zone for another.