Paris terror attacks: Touching hashtag emerges from horror

Spectators embrace each other as they stand on the playing field of the Stade de France stadium at the end of a soccer match. Photo / AP

In amongst the chaos in Paris one trending hashtag is bringing a welcome relief for many terrified people.

People using the #PorteOuverte are opening up their homes to strangers who need somewhere safe to stay.

#PorteOuverte If you need a place to stay tonight in the 18th we can host a few people, clean bedding, tea, and internet if you need it!

— Gaybby (@gabshnks) November 13, 2015

New Zealanders in Paris are opening their doors to those stranded in the city and in need and a place to stay following the terror attacks.

Kiwi Garth Paull wrote: "Hi everyone, please be in contact with love ones back home and communicate with other members on the group if you need assistance. If tonight's events have in anyway shocked you and you need to talk, please private message me. I am happy to talk to you. Stay safe and stay indoors."

Emma Nicols wrote: "Pm me if you need a place to stay in the 6th tonight. Hoping everyone is safe."

Others encouraged people to mark themselves as safe using Facebook's "safety check" feature.

"Any of you in the Paris region should mark yourselves safe here on the Paris Terror Attacks Facebook Safety Check page," wrote Hilary Gerber-Fairfax.

The hashtag #PorteOuverte, which translates to #Opendoor, is trending on social media.

The People of France stand together #PorteOuverte pic.twitter.com/Asbh7Qq2Mf

— Stephen William (@GILESY415) November 14, 2015

People are offering everything from rooms with clean bedding to food and drink and internet access to contact loved ones.

There are also tweets advising people on the streets that there are taxis who are taking people to their homes if they can't find a shelter and don't have any money.

The hastag is bringing relief for many.

My Friends are safe, in a random woman's home. She's making them dinner, & preparing beds. Blessed. #PorteOuverte

— T. Westfield • iHandleStuff® (@TWestfield) November 13, 2015

There are warnings on the site for people not to tweet their exact address "You don't know who is reading".

People are also Tweeting #PrayForParis and expressing their disbelief.

Images such as this one are spreading on Twitter. Picture / Twitter

While most Twitter accounts are offering support or being used to decry the attacks, a small number are being used it to praise them.

People on #parisisburning, which roughly translates to Paris ignites or Paris in Flames, appear to be celebrating the attacks.

Newsweek.com reports that some of the tweets containing the Arabic hashtag contain photos from the scene of the shootings.

#ISIS celebrating with this hashtag: #باريس_تشتعل . #ParisAttack #Paris

— Hanin Ghaddar (@haningdr) November 13, 2015

Meanwhile, monuments around the world are changing their colours in support of the Paris victims.

New York's One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building have gone red, white, and blue - the colours of the French flag.

One World Trade Center 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/PkhthDMHDQ

— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) November 14, 2015

Wembley Arena has also changed its colours.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark