Paris terror attacks: French nationals in New Zealand fear for loved ones back home

Mathieu Marine and Jeremy Gustin. Photo / Michael Craig

A French woman based in New Zealand, Jenny Boissinot, has posted an urgent plea on Facebook for anyone who may have news of her sister.

The post on Facebook page "Français en Nouvelle Zélande / French in New Zealand" said two of her family members had been at the restaurant "the little Cambodia" during the attacks.

Her brother-in-law had been injured and taken to hospital but she and her family are unsure of the whereabouts of her sister Chloë Boissinot.

The post, translated from French, read: "Emergency. My Brother-in-law was injured and is in the hospital. In a panic he lost my sister. We have no news of Chloe (Chloë Boissinot). She was at the restaurant "the little Cambodia" in the 10th, next to the bataclan. Please, if you have any information, call my family, the police...I beg you."

French backpackers thousands of miles from home are also reeling after today's terror attack and desperately trying to contact loved ones in France.

The concerned tourists were peeled to phones and computers keen to know friends and family were safe on a day some fear would have a lasting impact on their homeland.

Physiotherapist Jeremy Gustin (29) and friend Mathieu Marine (30) were frantically scouring social media for word on whereabouts of family and friends as they sat in the lobby of a downtown Auckland backpackers hostel this afternoon.

The pair, who had just arrived in New Zealand for a month's holiday, said they were in shock and very worried about the developing situation they had left behind.

"It's terrible. I am just trying to see if all my contacts in Paris are okay," said Gustin.

French backpacker Maxime Champroux. Photo / Michael Craig

He had managed to speak to his sister who lived in Paris and was checking a special social media application that indicated if people were safe.

Gustin said his thoughts were with those who were caught up in the attacks.

"I would like to say to all French people we are thinking about them."

But he now feared this second terror attack in less than a year was set to usher in a disturbing new era.

"I feel like my country is in trouble.

"We are very far away. We are very worried about the situation and wonder what we are going to go back to."

Frenchwoman Charlotte Edelmayer. Photo / Michael Craig

Charlotte Edelmayer (27) said she was stunned by the news and was terrified at the direction of her homeland.

"So many innocent people are suffering from it and being hurt by it.

"It's a lot of people who have nothing to do with the political situation."

She had been calling home and making sure she was staying in touch with developments throughout the day.

Edelmayer said since the Charlie Hebdo attacks everyone had been on edge, with a growing divide between the Christian and Muslim community.

"With the elections and popularity of the National Front building at the moment it terrifies me," she said.

Maxime Champroux (24), who lives near Paris, was desperately trying to contact his family without success.

"My family, my sister and friends live in Paris. I'm trying to contact them but I don't have any news," said Champroux.

He said words were failing him and he was struggling to describe the impact of the news.

"This is awful. This is such a sad moment."

- additional reporting by Regan Schoultz