University of Central Florida students Shearly Reyes and Alexa Fernandez are taking a gap semester and backpacking through Europe. Tonight, Nov. 13, was their first night in Paris, the night the city was attacked.
Reyes and Fernandez said they were at a cafe about three miles from the first attack and about one mile from the second.
They say this photo of them in front of the Eiffel Tower was taken maybe an hour before the attacks.
“While it was happening, there was like SWAT style trucks racing down the streets, everyone was told to go indoors so we headed back to our Hotel. Now we are finding out the borders are closed and we won’t be able to leave, all of the military is mobilized, and everything including our hotel is under police lockdown. Also there are dozens of police cars patrolling the streets but I imagine it’s because we are so close,” Reyes said.
Fernandez described the attack sounds “like fireworks.”
When asked how she felt about being there in the moment, Reyes responded “Extremely terrified, it’s scary seeing something like this ‘the worst terrorist attack in Europe since 2005’ happen just a mile away from us. At the same time it’s really impressive to see the aftermath, the unity, and the compassion towards other human beings. Regardless of age, sex, gender, and nationality.”
The two say that the way the French are responding is impressive.
“Citizens are opening their door to complete strangers stranded in the city (since hotels aren’t taking in guests) and it just honestly shows their generosity and [resilience],” Reyes told Knight News.
No one is allowed to enter or leave their hotel and all the guests are watching television in the common areas consoling each other.
CNN reported that there were at least 128 killed and “eight extremists are dead after attacks. Seven of them were killed in suicide bombings.” However, these numbers have not been confirmed by Knight News.
