Killing shocks chef who lived in Paris

Stephen Wilson owned a restaurant and lived in the same neighbourhood as the Charlie Hebdo office and described it as a 'quiet place'. Photo / George Novak

A former Paris resident of 26 years has described how his eyes welled with tears as he read the news of the terror attacks in his old neighbourhood.

Twelve people were shot dead at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper, yesterday by two heavily armed gunmen.

Stephen Wilson had three French journalists, his former Paris neighbours, staying with him in Tauranga as the news broke.

He said he felt "strong emotions", as they watched the harrowing footage on the streets they all called home.

"I was beginning to well up with tears," he said.

The Tauranga chef owned a restaurant and lived in the same neighbourhood as the Charlie Hebdo office and described it as a "quiet place".

"Who would have thought that could happen? A policeman shot on the streets and cartoonists murdered at their desks." He understood the employees had police protection at all times at the office and had relocated to the office where they were killed.

"They didn't have the name of the magazine on the outside of their building, it was just a quiet place. I lived just around the corner."

Mr Wilson was in touch with his friends in France yesterday and said they were still in "shock and horror".

"I don't think anyone is worried for their safety, it's not like that."

He had no doubt they would all have joined the public demonstrations and protests in Paris last night.

"Of course, they [the gunmen] have poked at the heart of the French, which is liberty. It's the heart and soul of the French, the freedom of speech.

"Their message [the protesters] will be that they won't bow down to those who will take their freedom."

He was worried people would begin to live in fear after the cartoonists were murdered. "You can poke fun at the Pope or Jesus or a president but poke fun at the prophet Mohammad and you're playing with fire."