Paris attacks: Former Montrealer says he saw gunfire and ran

Two former Montreal residentswere close enoughto Friday's attacks in Paristo seethe flashes of guns going offandpeople running in all directions.

Medhy Djerrah, a French national who lived in Montreal from 2010 to 2015, and his girlfriend,MontrealerAndrea O'Connor, were sitting by a bridge over the Canal Saint-Martinwhen they heard what Djerrah thoughtwerefirecrackers going off.

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Four minutes later, they heard it again, but this time the sound was much closer.

"People around us stood up to see what it was. Many started running in the opposite direction," Djerrahsaid.

He still wasn't convinced it was gunfire until he turned and saw the muzzle flashes not far from them.

"I could see flashes and flames coming out of the guns," he said.

The couple lived close by and ran home to safety through back alleys.

"Once we understood it was shooting and they were targeting people, we decided theback streets would be safest," he said.

The couple live about five minutes by car fromthe theatre where it's reported that 100 people died.

"We were about to start walking in that direction when the shooting started," he said. "It's just by chancethat we didn't end up in the line of fire."

Djerrah said he and O'Connor then followedgovernment orders to stay inside.

Quebecers reactto Paris attacks

A group of around 100 people gathered under umbrellas outsidethe French consulate in downtown Montreal Friday nightto light candles andcomfort one another.

Together they sang "LaMarseillaise," France's national anthem, a number of times.

A second vigil isbeing organized at the consulate for Saturday afternoon.

Flags at half-mast

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre ordered the flags at City Hall lowered to half-mast.

In a statement, Coderre said he had been in touch withthe Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to express Montreal's condolences.

"We arewith Parisians in their grief and the struggleagainst all violence. Tonight, we are all Parisians," he said.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillardalsoordered the flags at the National Assembly in Quebec City lowered to half-mast, as well as flags at the province's international delegations.

Couillardtweeted that his government "strongly condemns" the attacks, saying"our thoughts are with the people of France in these difficult moments."

He also tweeted thatChristine St-Pierre, Quebec's Minister of International Relations, has been assured that employees of Quebec's diplomatic delegation in Paris are all safe.

St-Pierre tweeted thatshe had spoken with France's consul-general in Quebec and expressed the province's solidarity.

Justin Trudeau, ThomasMulcairstand with France

Prime Minister Justin Trudeautold journalists that Canada hasoffered itshelp to the French government,as well as its sympathies.

"Obviously our hearts and thoughts are with our French cousins during this terrible time," he said.

Trudeau said he has also spoken with his national security advisors to ensure that all steps are taken to protect Canadians.

"We will keep Canadians informed as the situation develops," he said.

Federal NDP leaderThomas Mulcairalsotweeted about hisshock at the news ofthe attacks in Paris.

Solidarity with France

People around Quebec also turned to Twitter to expresssolidarity with France.

Paris-bound flights delayed

Two Paris-bound flights were delayed on Friday, though a spokeswoman forAroportsdeMontral, the city's airport authority,said there were no plans to cancel flights to the French capital.

Marie-ClaudeDesgagnssaid if that changes, that information will be updated immediatelyon theauthority'swebsite.