'Lost for words' at terrorism

Alliance Francaise co-ordinators Liz and Bernard Boutet are "sad, horrified and absolutely shocked" by the Paris terror attacks. They are pictured with their daughter Marine Boutet-Manning and her three children Rheuben, Nikau and Khan. Photo / Tania Whyte

Bernard and Elizabeth Boutet were yesterday pitching a French flag with a black ribbon at their Whangarei home in a show of solidarity for the people of Paris.

The couple, co-ordinators of Northland's French language and culture society Alliance Francaise Whangarei, said the local French community needed to come together to mourn.

"We are actually shaking. My husband is not recovering," Ms Boutet said. "We're just absolutely lost for words."

The couple were scrambling to organise a time for Northland's large French community to come together.

Ms Boutet said she had checked in with the couple's Parisian friends and relatives, all of whom were safe.

"We've rung all our family in Paris. One of our nephews was walking in the street at the time and had to run straight back to his apartment. Some of the attacks were close to where he was living " so they're in lockdown."

The period after the attacks had been a stressful blur of phone calls to French Northlanders and loved ones in Paris.

"We are sharing news straight from family in Paris about what is happening next ... We are keeping up minute by minute."

Ms Boutet knew of about 50 French families living in Northland and the alliance was "very active", with regular events and meetings.

She said it was now time for this community to come together, though French people had a tendency to "keep within themselves" in times of difficulty. Mr Boutet said he was "sad, horrified and absolutely shocked".

"We're going to have to try and do something to support people here, and will be calling an urgent meeting.

"It needs to be something special to bring people in the area together."

Anyone interested in attending the event could see the details as they became available at afwhangarei.org.nz.

At least 129 people were killed in six co-ordinated attacks involving suicide bombers, grenades and machine guns on Friday night in Paris. New Zealand is at present 12 hours ahead of Paris.

Islamic State terrorists had claimed responsibility for the attacks and were warning of more to come.

Some reports had the gunmen yelling "Allah Akbar" and "this is for Syria" as they opened fire.

Suicide bombs exploded outside the Stade de France, attackers stormed Le Carillon " a popular restaurant " and hundreds were taken hostage at the Bataclan theatre, where they were then summarily executed.

French President Franois Hollande called the attacks an act of war.