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Sask. woman locked in Paris coffee shop during attack

Jun 6, 2017 | 12:00 PM

A Paris vacation turned into one of terror and confusion for one Saskatchewan woman.

Kelsi Gieni grew up in Moose Jaw but now lives in Saskatoon. She was on the second day of her vacation when she was walking with two of her friends to the Notre Dame Cathedral.

“All of a sudden it was just like madness,” Gieni said.

A man allegedly attacked a police officer with a hammer near the popular tourist destination. The attacker was shot by police and has been taken to hospital.

She said she was locked in a coffee shop as police dealt with the incident.

“It’s terrifying and we keep saying amongst ourselves ‘Oh my god, had we not stopped for a croissant we would be in the centre of all of that, we could’ve been shot.’”

Gieni said the front half of the shop was blocked off to the public and everyone was huddled in the back area.

She said many people inside the coffee shop were on their phones trying to get in touch with family members.

Police have since allowed people to leave the coffee shop and Gieni said she’s relieved the incident has ended.

BGray@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @BrittonGray