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Mourners Pack Seattle French Bakery To Remember Paris Terror Victims

Kyle Stokes
/
KPLU
"Today, we are all Parisians," said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who was among those gathered at Belltown's La Parisienne French Bakery to mourn the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris.

Draped in France's tricolor flag and wiping away tears, a group of at least 150 people gathered at a French bakery in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood Saturday afternoon to mourn the victims of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.

Somber mourners spilled out of the tiny La Parisienne French bakery and onto Fourth Avenue, where candles flickered on the sidewalk and a French flag hung next to the door of shop.

"The day after September 11, 2001, the French papers said, 'We are all Americans,’ said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who was among those who visited the bakery. “I thought it was important for the people of Seattle to tell the people of Paris that today, we're all Parisians,"

According to NPR, attacks on six locations across Paris — including a suicide bombing outside the national soccer stadium — killed more than 120 people and injured more than 350 others.

Credit Kyle Stokes / KPLU
/
KPLU
Bruno Gralpois, who is from the Bretagne region of France, wore a jacket with the American flag on the arm and the French flag close to his heart.

Bruno Gralpois, who was born in France but has been in Seattle for 20 years, stood outside the bakery in a jacket with a French flag embroidered on the chest and an American flag on his arm — the French flag was close to his heart, and the Stars and Stripes are the "muscle," he explained with a smile.

"In this type of event, we're going to have to show both: heart, compassion; but also a lot of strength," he said.

While most of Gralpois' family lives in the Brittany region, more than 250 miles from the French capital, he said his niece lives in Paris. He said she knew someone killed in the attack on a concert venue.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole told reporters there were "no known immediate threats" in the city, but that her department would step up patrols around CenturyLink Field during tomorrow's Seahawks football game.

Kyle Stokes covers the issues facing kids and the policies impacting Washington's schools for KPLU.