A Bermudian teacher in Paris last night described her “terrifying” ordeal locked in a restaurant on the same block where terrorists opened fire in one of a string of attacks across the French capital.

Tiffany-Latoya Smith, 28, was enjoying an evening out with a friend to watch her fiancé play in a band at Le Royal Est when news of the violence broke.

“It was very terrifying,” she told The Royal Gazette. “We had to spend the night on lockdown hiding in the restaurant.

“My heart really goes out to the people who lost loved ones. It’s horrific to know you could have been next.”

At least 129 people were killed on Friday when terrorists attacked a popular concert hall, busy restaurants and set off bombs outside the Stade de France football stadium.

Ms Smith, a foreign language teacher who moved to Paris in 2011, described the events as “horrific, frightening and really sad”, adding: “People are still in search of their loved ones. Yesterday [Saturday] they were slowly identifying bodies but people are still missing.

“I’m less fearful today [Sunday] but I am still in shock. I was blessed that my restaurant was not touched although it was only eight minutes away.”

Ms Smith received a text message from her colleague at about 10.40pm, to tell her attacks were taking place and urging her to stay safe.

She said her “heart fell to my stomach” when she found out that restaurants in the tenth district, where Le Royal Est is located, were targeted.

“The band stopped,” she said. “I looked at my fiancé; he knew something was going on.”

The news spread quickly and about half of the 80 people in the venue left immediately, despite the owner urging them to stay.

Ms Smith said: “He immediately closed down the restaurant with iron shutters and stacked all the chairs in front of the doors and the windows. I remember them telling us, especially my fiancé, to stay away from the doors and windows even though they were covered.”

She said the owner told the band to stop playing so as not to attract attention, turned off the lights and ushered the remaining patrons to the centre of the restaurant.

“He was really concerned about keeping us safe,” Ms Smith said, adding that they could hear sirens and saw the flashing lights of police cars outside as they watched the television in the bar area.

“Everyone was scared,” she said. “They were calm but you could tell in their eyes and in some of their words that they were scared. Apparently I had a blank face — that’s what my friends told me.

“We were all worried for each other but looking out for each other.”

Ms Smith was able to talk to her mother and reassure her that she was safe, before deciding to save the battery on her phone.

“I wanted to tell her before she randomly turned on the television and found out. I did not want her to panic,” she said.

By 3am the streets appeared quiet and Ms Smith said that some people decided to leave but were again urged to stay inside.

Together with her fiancé and friend, Ms Smith made “a go for it” at about 4.30am and another 20 people left with them.

“I’ve never seen Paris so empty before,” she said about her journey home. “We counted maybe six cars at different times. Everyone was rushing to go home.”

Ms Smith said the roads remained empty yesterday, with department stores, museums, libraries and any other place that would normally attract large crowds closed and likely to remain so for the next couple of days.

There was a heavy police and military presence as thousands paid tribute to the victims at Le Place de la République, outside Notre Dame Cathedral and the restaurants that were attacked, “as they did during Charlie Hebdo as well”.

Ms Smith said she had received many messages from friends across the globe but wanted to reassure them that she is all right.

“People are coming together as a country at this time,” she said. “The Eiffel Tower is still in darkness but other monuments in the world are lit up in blue, white and red.

“That was really touching.”

Bermuda joined a worldwide display of solidarity for France by observing a moment of silence before both World Rugby Classic games on Saturday, and it was announced last night that the flags on all government buildings would be flown at half mast as a mark of respect for those killed.

Michael Dunkley, the Premier, along with the Opposition and the Governor, George Fergusson, have condemned the attacks and offered their support to France.

Nicole Haziza, the honorary French Consul, thanked them on behalf of the Island’s French community for “expressing their support in these difficult times”.

“I also thank the residents of Bermuda, who have joined the people of France in mourning the victims of terrorism.

“Your show of solidarity and expressions of condolence have been deeply moving.”