Shocked. Angry. Horrified. These were some of the reactions some Frenchmen living in the area had immediately after the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The Friday evening attacks, which the Islamic State took credit for, killed more than 129 people in six separate locations across the city, in an event deemed an act of war by French President François Hollande.
Thierry Multon, who is from Paris, agreed strongly with sentiments of public officials that the aggression should be dealt with quickly.
Multon, now living in La Plata County, was watching the France vs. Germany soccer game on television when he heard what sounded like fireworks, but was actually the sounds of a bombs exploding.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s crazy,” he said.
He hopes that the United Kingdom and America will stand with France if a greater ground offensive is necessary, and he would like to see more monitoring of migration.
France has seen an influx of immigrants from Muslim countries, and some of them have formed insular communities.
“I feel some people are migrating now for the wrong reasons,” he said.
But in the aftermath of the attacks, he does not want to see those with Arabic heritage living in France suffer prejudice because he has several friends from the Middle East who have lived in France for many years.
“I’m afraid those guys are going to be looked at (like) they are not French anymore. ... That scares me,” he said.
Jean-Pierre Bleger, who owns Jean-Pierrie Bakery and Wine Bar in town, described the events as a horror story that played out just a few blocks from his house in Paris.
“Everybody I talked to this morning were horrified by what happened,” he said.
However, his uncle, who still lives in Paris, was not surprised by the attacks because of the divide that’s formed in France between some of the immigrants and the native French. It’s a situation that’s been lingering for years and years, he said.
“People are very frustrated with the situation,” Bleger said.
Despite the recent attacks, both Multon and Bleger feel comfortable traveling to France
“Paris is still a wonderful place to be,” Bleger said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
