In Paris, patrons began returning as La Bonne Biere, a corner cafe in the trendy central district targeted by the gunmen, opened early Friday morning. The cafe where five people were killed by a squad of Islamic extremist gunmen on November 13, terrorizing central Paris…
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Piles of flowers and candles still line the pavement in front of the bar.
Signs of the attack include a banner over its awning that reads “Je Suis En Terrasse” – I’m on the terrace – a defiant message that spread in the days after the November 13 attack.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported us, for your poems, your messages and posts that have so helped us”, Bily said.
Customers turned out Friday at the Bonne Biere cafe, reportedly the first Paris cafe that was attacked to reopen. To bounce back? We’ve done some work, repainted the walls to rub out the scars of this nightmare.
Cars pass by and people gather around La Bonne Biere cafe in Paris during its reopening Friday, Dec. 4, 2015.
For now, the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 people were killed in the most deadly of the series of shootings and suicide bombings remains the focus of the mourning. A blackboard leaning against the café’s entrance says everyone is still thinking of the families affected, the victims and everyone present on that night.
Paule Zlotnik, a neighbouring shopkeeper, praised the decision to re-open.
While others had a mixed feelings about it. “It’s a good thing that it’s opening up again, but there will still be an bad lot of memories here”, local resident Valentine said.
The owners of the venue said this week they are determined to re-open, although they are unlikely to be able to do so until the end of next year.
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Arriving to chair the meeting, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider said “If we don’t get agreement today, it will be extremely hard to get any agreement at all”. We mustn’t give in to fear, you have to fight.
