Paris attacks: City in lockdown, attractions close

Police patrol at the Louvre museum in Paris. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

President Francois Hollande declared a nationwide state of emergency, with three days of national mourning, and public facilities, including schools, were closed. All public demonstrations are banned in the Paris region until Thursday.

Disneyland Paris said in a statement it would remain closed “in light of the recent tragic events in France and in support of our community and the victims of these horrendous attacks”. Some 14.2 million people visited the attraction last year.

Eurostar trains were still running to Paris but they were largely empty.

British Airways were offering passengers booked on flights to Paris the opportunity to fly on any other day in the next two weeks or switch to another European destination.

Scottish tourist Shirley Rigby, from Fife, who was due to go to the French capital with her husband Bob for their anniversary decided not to go yesterday after being told the city had shut down. “We travelled down to London on the sleeper train from Edinburgh,” she said. “We were still planning on going today but then we were told the city is in lockdown and everything is closed. We were booked to go on a tour of the Eiffel Tower but it’s shut and apparently everything else is shut. Of course it’s going to be a sad time and we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our anniversary and look at a beautiful city.”

Irish rock band U2 cancelled a concert due to take place in Paris last night. A statement on the band’s website said the decision was taken “as a result of the ongoing state of emergency across France” but organisers were “fully resolved to go ahead with this show at an appropriate time”.

The Foo Fighters announced they are cancelling the rest of their European tour. The band, led by Dave Grohl, were to play at the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris tomorrow and in Casalecchio Di Reno, Italy, on Friday.