Irish man relays terror he witnessed in Paris attacks
The University College Dublin (UCD) graduate was on Twitter throughout the evening, his first tweet (@cormacflynn) in relation to the attacks at around 9pm saying he was: “In a restaurant with one hurt following the shooting in Paris in the 11th [district].”
This was following by: “One injured here, they turned all the lights out to keep the restaurant hidden, police just arrived, absolutely terrifying.”
As news of what was happening filtered through, Cormac tweeted that someone had apparently opened fire in the nearby Bataclan club and that some of the injured had come to the restaurant he was dining in.
Police then arrived in strength and Cormac tweeted: “We’re just waiting down the back with everyone. Hear that someone shot from the balcony during the gig at Bataclan.” He intended to stay put until they were given the all clear.
At this point, Cormac had received various requests to get in contact with different people but replied that he couldn’t send a direct message to anyone or talk “because it’s still all happening. We’re all ok though,” he said.
Describing the increasingly tense scene, he said everyone was cramped on the stairwell, “smoking, on their phones. One girl who was at the Bataclan totally distraught.” His next tweet, at around 10pm Irish time, said they had been told to go to the top floor for safety reasons “so I guess there’s still someone on the street”.
He said neighbours had come out to give water to people and that those who had escaped the Bataclan were being called down at intervals to speak to police. “Just waiting to be let go now. Think we’ll be here for a while,” he tweeted.
If you need a safe place in #Paris search twitter for tag #PorteOuverte << being used by locals to provide safe harbour #ParisAttacks
— Ken Curtin 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 (@kencurtin) November 13, 2015
Twitter was also being used to offer shelter around Paris from risk areas under the hashtag #PorteOuverte. The attack at a popular Cambodian restaurant, the Cambodge, was shocking, Cormac said, describing it as a “Really well known place by the canal”.
He said there were unconfirmed reports ambulances were having difficulty getting to the Bataclan.
Just before 11pm Irish time, Cormac reported being “evacuated at speed” followed by: “All ok, police seem to be pointing machine gun at nearby building, or could be covering us. Waiting across road.”
As his mobile phone battery died, Cormac tweeted: “Just waiting in street now near the Pompiers. No one knows what to do, all safe though. Phone almost flat.”
The Irishman has been living in Paris since 2007.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among many political leaders to express shock at the events unfolding in France.
“Once again we are witnessing carnage on the streets of Paris. Again the capital is suffering at the hands of those who seek only to wreak havoc and destruction on civil society,” he said.
“My thoughts and those of all the Irish people are with the French people this evening. As ever, we stand as one with them and will never bend to the evil of terrorism.”
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD also condemned the gun and bomb attacks.
“The deplorable attacks tonight in Paris are to be condemned.
“My thoughts and those of everyone in Ireland at this time will be with those killed or injured.”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Paris and France tonight. Very disturbing events and a shocking loss of life.”
US president Barack Obama made a statement after being briefed on the attacks: “We’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it is an attack not just on the people of France, but it is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share.”
Britain’s prime minister David Cameron said: “I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.”
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