French expats in the UAE react to Paris attacks

A person is being evacuated from the Bataclan theater after a shooting in Paris, Friday Nov. 13, 2015. AP photo

Multiple shootings rocked central Paris Friday night, one of which was at the Bataclan theatre and concert hall where hundreds of people were attending a concert of a rock group.
The toll from a series of explosions and shootings in France capital Paris rose to 153 on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Anne Cabanel, a manager with a Public Relations company in Dubai, says, "It was a shock to wake up this morning. I turned on my mobile phone, and there were messages on whatsapp from friends, on the family group.." Everyone in her family, and friend circle is reported to be safe. She said, when she saw her phone and read that her nephews were talking about their mum and uncle in Paris being safe, she realised that Paris had been attacked, again.
A brother of a friend of Anne's though, was in Paris on Friday evening, for a 'Paris photo' event. The event was on a street close to the attacks. "Fortunately he came back home in time before the attacks," she said.
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"Two days ago it was Beirut, yesterday was Paris, what's going on," she says. "I just hope that everybody is safe, united, and there are no political repercussions."
Benjamin de Terssac, who runs Carpool Arabia, said everyone he knew was okay. He and his wife are both very far from Paris, ,from the south of France, from Toulouse, so their folks are thankfully, safe and well.
The director of the Dubai Alliance Française, Bernard Frontero said, "We are all defending human values. And we salute the Emirates for supporting us." He said his family and friends are okay.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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