Paris plaza cleared, panic at other site

Many people were reportedly too scared to come out of nearby restaurants – so scared that police had to personally walk to all the establishments and inform those that fled the scene that all was clear.

A vigil for the victims of Friday’s attack turns chaotic as fireworks were set off, triggering panic among the people. “The owner immediately ordered the shutters drawn down, and we all barricaded ourselves up to the third floor”.

“I said, “what happened, what happened”, and they said, “there’s a shooter out there”, but there wasnt'”. All turned out to be false but touched a raw nerve, causing near stampedes.

It is now known that 129 people died, with the numbers of injured now 352, of whom 99 are in a critical condition. “This all just goes to show that in addition to the sorrow and the defiance, Paris is now a city in the grip of fear”.

Satellite trucks dominate the footpaths and free space around the key broadcast areas, with countless reporters and correspondents providing live updates throughout the day and night to all corners of the globe.

TV footage that had earlier been displaying individuals gathered round a monument to commemorate these killed in Friday’s Islamist militant shootings later confirmed the scene nearly empty. People are mostly quiet as they run with a few screams heard in the background.

Three Kalashnikovs were found inside the other auto known to have been used in the attacks, a Seat found in Montreuil, a suburb 6 kilometres (nearly 4 miles) east of the French capital, according to the police official, who could not be named because the investigation is ongoing. Sunday afternoon, the crowds had returned to public places – Notre Dame, Les Halles, Place de la Republique – even if the institutions themselves remained closed by official order: church concerts canceled, public cinemas and museums closed, mass gatherings forbidden in public spaces.

She said she had stood in silent reflection for an unknown amount of time and thinks France needs to make a statement in its response to the terrorists.

Police officers reportedly drew their guns and told people to evacuate. “These people manage to sow terror among us; they are trying to turn us each against the other”.

“I saw a man who had to take his blood pressure pills, sitting down, people in total panic, as you could imagine”.

It is thought the bangs heard could have been fireworks.

“Hundreds of people just started running for their lives”. Those who were not inside were running, crying. That cafe was evacuated in about two seconds flat. “There’s now overturned chairs and broken glasses all over the floor”. But the French Interior Ministry said it had been a false alarm.

Emergency services were seen heading to the Place de la République.

“Security is tighter than when we arrived”.

Europe and much of the world have come together in solidarity following the atrocity.