Australians bound for Paris urged to reconsider after panicked scenes

Australians planning to travel to Paris are being urged to reconsider after more panic in the French capital overnight.

“There have been one or two scenes of panic. There is hyper vigilance in Paris,” Australia’s ambassador to France, Stephen Brady, told the Nine Network on Monday.

“Unless there is an absolute necessity to travel to Paris, think carefully about the security environment here.”

The Australian government is advising Australians travelling to the rest of France to exercise precautions.

People in the La Place de la République scattered overnight after hearing a loud bang and fearing there was a gunman in the square.

Brady said city’s residents were taking heart from the support coming from other cities around the world.

“Those scenes of our Opera House bathed in the French colours and the French flag flying from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, all the other symbols around Australia, they’ve been hugely appreciated by the French,” he said. “I have every confidence that life in Paris will resume its normal pulse.”

Airlines have given Australians booked to travel to Paris in coming days the option of changing their flights.

Emirates has waived all rebooking, reissue and cancellation charges for passengers travelling to Paris, Lyon or Nice up to 20 November. The airline is also offering rebooking options for people who want to fly to other destinations.

Qantas is offering a similar deal. It said passengers travelling between Australia and France until Tuesday could reroute their flights, switch destinations or receive a credit on their ticket price.