Story by Erin Turner, Becca Risley and Stephanie Schiraldi
Updated at 11:59 p.m.
Several of Lipscomb’s Global Learning students are currently in France, near where over 150 people have been reported dead after a series of apparent coordinated attacks across Paris. Eight attackers involved are dead.
Lipscomb’s Global Learning students are safe and accounted for, according to Lipscomb University’s Facebook. But the students may be stuck there as President Francois Hollande has closed that nation’s borders as a response to the terrorist attacks.
Police evacuated roughly 100 hostages held captive in the Bataclan concert venue Friday evening, the site of one of the attacks. Two men dressed in all black entered the concert hall. Upon entering, the men started firing what appeared to be AK-47s. French reporter Julien Pearce said the shootings occurred execution-style.
During a soccer game at the Stade de France, a dismembered body was found at the scene, according to a Western intelligence source. This attack was reported as a suicide bombing.
Additionally, attacks occurred at restaurants Le Petit Cambodge and La Belle Equipe, Avenue de la Republique and Rue de la Fontaine au Roi.
“This is an attack not just on Paris, not just on the people in France, but an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share,” President Barack Obama said at the White House during a live press conference Friday evening.
A few Lipscomb students in the London Global Learning program are currently spending the weekend right outside Paris, France. Lipscomb Assistant Vice President of Communication and Marketing Kim Chaudoin said the students are staying in a facility away from where Friday’s attacks took place.
The families of these students have been contacted by the university and the students received a call from Lipscomb President Randy Lowry.
“President Lowry called and talked to the students in Paris. He said they were in good spirits,” Chaudoin said.
Four other Lipscomb students studying in Vienna, Austria, are in Nice, France, on a weekend trip.
Junior Zack Eccleston said that the group in Nice must stay put due to the state of emergency in the surrounding areas.
“So many people lost their lives today for no reason. So many families lost loved ones, and so many people are now scrambling to figure out what to do next,” Eccleston said. “All the tourists need to figure out how to get home, and everyone who lives in Paris is questioning what it means to be safe.
“God has got us covered, for sure. We might have to to book a hotel for however long we have to stay here. And then we have to figure out how to get back to Vienna. But honestly, that is all really minor stuff compared to what happened tonight in Paris.”
Eccleston is joined in Nice by sophomores Rachel Hamby, Sinney Chan and Lindsey Benson and two Oklahoma Christian University students.
“In times where everything is out of our control, the only option left is to turn to God,” Eccleston said. “He can do anything, and I pray He will do much in this broken situation.”
Lumination Network reached out to students right outside of Paris, France, but students were unable to answer at this time. Lumination will update as new information is discovered.
Facts and photo attributed to CNN News.