Key's personal connection to attacks

John Key.
John Key.
Prime Minister John Key has spoken of his "huge relief" that daughter Stephie is safe at home in Paris after terror attacks claimed more than 150 lives.

His personal connection to the terrors of France came with a message of condemnation for the terror attack and sympathy for those who had suffered through and because of the Paris attacks.

Mr Key said Stephie, an art student studying in Paris, was in contact with wife Bronagh.

"She is at home now safe and sound but obviously like any parent or anyone that has a loved one in Paris it is a worrying time.

"Obviously we are hugely relieved she is safe and sound but obviously you are always concerned for your children and your family members and this is a tie when there is a great deal of uncertainty in Paris. There may potentially still be some of these terrorist at large so that presents risk."

Mr Key, who had just landed in Darwin on the way to Vietnam, said the he felt "numb" after hearing the news and expected others would too.

"It's a tragic day for the people of France and for any of the families of the victims involved."

He said there had been no information of New Zealanders caught up in the attacks at this stage.

Kiwis in Paris should make contact with their families - as Stephie Key had reached out to Bronagh when news of the attacks broke.

"It's the time that you always feel that distance between your own family members and somewhat helpless that there is not a hell of a lot you can do.

"She was out at a shopping mall. One of our friends saw an update on the British media and then she texted my wife who then got in contact with our daughter and my wife rightly advised her to get home to her apartment as quickly as she could."

He said those with concerns about friends and family in France could make contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the New Zealand embassy in Paris.

Mr Key said Stephie wouldn't be asked to return to New Zealand. "We'd tell her obviously to keep herself as safe and secure as she possibly can but obviously she's in the same position of millions of others living in Paris."

Mr Key described the attacks as "a co-ordinated series of terrorist attacks taking place in multiple locations" and an illustration of why terror had to be resisted.

"It is particularly vicious in nature. If you think about the reports we see coming from the concert hall, it is utterly brutal terrorism which has clearly been undertaken in a way to terrify people.

"It is both troubling and disturbing and I think shows people why we have to stand up to these terrorists because they know absolutely no bounds when it comes to humanity."

Mr Key said he still intended to attend the COP 21 climate change conference in Paris in December. "I think you'd imagine the French authorities would want to continue to hold COP21."

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