Tauranga's French in mourning after terror attacks

Backpacker Jean-Paul Saltan slammed the man who tossed a firecracker into the middle of a crowd of mourners at a memorial service in the heart of Paris yesterday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Distraught Tauranga restaurant owner Maurice Mourali is in mourning after three close friends, including one he describes as like a treasured sister, were killed during the Paris attacks.

French-born Mr Mourali, who owns popular restaurant Cafe Versailles in Grey St, said when he learned there was a terrorist alert in Paris he was not overly concerned at first.

"But when the TV news said many people had been killed, I was very concerned about my daughter. She works in Brussels, not far from Paris. I knew she and some friends were planning to visit Paris over the weekend, and I was really worried as it took some time to contact her."

Mr Mourali said he had since heard from his 22-year-old daughter and was hugely relieved to know she and her friends were okay, but then his heart sunk when he received the devastating news at least three close friends had been killed

"One was a 42-year-old lady who was like a sister to me. I have been told she was killed when she went to collect her son from Lasa Casa Nostra restaurant ... She was really nice, wonderful lady who worked as a social worker."

At least five people died in the automatic rifle attacks at Las Casa Nostra restaurant in the 11th district.

Mr Mourali said he was too traumatised to talk about the other killings involving his friends, and was still anxiously waiting news about his cousin who works as a doctor. He was also unable to make contact with some other friends in Paris.

"It's a time of great sadness for me and the rest of France," he said.

Mr Mourali said he was blown away by the outpouring of support he and his homeland had been shown, including a customer who dropped off a bunch of flowers.

"It's been just unbelievable. It makes me cry," he said.

French-born Pahoia commercial tropical anthuriums grower Alain Billon said he had heard from most of his relatives who lived near Paris but was still waiting to hear from his niece in Paris.

"It's been a real shock. We're used to hearing about a single attack but to have five to six at one time and 129 innocent people indiscriminately targeted and killed, and so many critically injured, is unheard of in France. It's absolutely devastating news," he said.

"My French relatives are naturally feeling shattered and everyone is still in a state of shock."

There are number of French nationals visiting Tauranga, including backpacker Jean-Paul Saltan. The 25-year-old said he lived in Sarcelles about 16km from the centre of Paris but had spent almost 24 years of his life in Paris and knows the attack sites extremely well.

Mr Saltan, who recently completed his Masters Degree in Corporate Finance, said he arrived in New Zealand two weeks ago, and was spending eight months touring on a working holiday visa.

"I feel very sad, it's terrible. I was in Auckland when I read about the French president being evacuated from Stade de France stadium on a sports website and thought it was just a precaution.

"Then I read there were people running for their lives and being shot down and the initial report stated 20 people were dead at the Eagles of Death Metal concert. I was absolutely stunned," he said.

"It's a concert venue I have visited many times.

"It's terribly sad and really, really shocking and extremely worrying."

Mr Saltan slammed the man who tossed a firecracker into the middle of a crowd of mourners at a memorial service in the heart of Paris yesterday.

"All the people in Paris are already very scared, then some crazy person does this. He deserves a big slap across the face," he said.

Yesterday, a French defence official confirmed the country had launched a "massive" series of airstrikes on the Islamic State group's de facto capital in Syria, destroying a jihadi training camp and ammunitions dump.

The attack comes after Isis claimed responsibility for a series of co-ordinated terror attacks that left 129 people dead and injured 352 more in six locations throughout Paris on Saturday.

The ministry spokesman said yesterday that the strikes on Raqqa involved 12 aircraft, including 10 fighter jets, and 20 bombs were dropped.

The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak publicly.

Education Tauranga regional manager Anne Young said there were currently five French students at local high schools.

"The schools have been providing additional support to these students and have also made contact with their former French students to check up on them and confirm their safety," she said.

Most Bay travel agents spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times said it was too early to really say what the full impact would be as the situation was still evolving. Travellers were urged to check any travel advice from the Government.

House of Travel owner Shane Kennedy said there may potentially be some business travellers heading to Paris.

But the number of leisure travellers planning to head to Paris was likely to be quite low because it was the low season for this part of the world, he said.

Mr Kennedy said most of those who had visited that side of the world for the World Cup games had already returned.