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Photo by Katia Kelly for Pardon Me For Asking

As the death toll for Friday night’s Paris attacks reaches 129, a common, fearful solidarity has gripped many New Yorkers: It could have been us.

Conveyed through parents’ cautionary texts and an uptick in street awareness, a tangible apprehension has permeated New York’s public transit, resulting in many cancelled outings this past weekend.

In a city that is no stranger to terrorism, Friday’s attacks hit close to home in the hearts of New Yorkers, leaving many shaken and wary of riding the subway, visiting crowded areas, or even going outside. Ticket sales in certain popular corners of the city are down, according to The New York Times.

A French bistro in Carroll Gardens, Provence en Boite, has experienced an outpouring of condolences from customers who file into the restaurant to mourn with owners, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Carroll Gardens Attacks

Photo by Katia Kelly for Pardon Me For Asking

A candlelit vigil was held in Carroll Garden’s Carroll Park on Sunday night, in memorial of the lives lost in Friday’s attacks, above.

Gathering at 5:30 p.m. by the park’s World War I memorial, a multi-faith attendance of over 100 mourners and local officials gathered in solidarity with the neighborhood’s French community and Paris. The flags of France, Lebanon, Kenya, and the U.S. were flown.

“The only question that we must ask ourselves — are we going to surrender to fear?” Borough President Eric Adams asked the crowd, DNAinfo reported. “I say ‘no’ to that,” he answered.

Following the vigil, an interfaith service was held at the community’s St. Agnes Church.

The borough president also announced meetings planned for the following week at Brooklyn venues, where he would discuss safety tactics with NYPD officials.

Following the carnage in France, U.S. law enforcement agencies are on increased alert, with the F.B.I. increasing ISIS surveillance as French warplanes bomb Syria.

The NYPD have increased security in their Counterterrorism Response Command (CRC), Critical Response Group (SRG), and Hercules Teams in the city’s most crowded areas. These additional measures follow the immediate deployment of reinforcements to locations of French government representations throughout the city on Friday night, immediately following the Paris attacks, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported.

NYPD Intelligence Bureau Detectives have opened their services to the Paris Police and any liaison activities that may be possible or helpful, an NYPD statement said. Critical Response Vehicles citywide are on high alert, said Mayor de Blasio.

Beginning Friday night, the Freedom Tower’s spire has been glowing blue, white, and red.

Carroll Gardens French Attacks
St. Agnes Church’s Reverend Paul Anel, a French-speaking priest. Photo by Katia Kelly for Pardon Me For Asking

Carroll Gardens French Attacks

Photo by Katia Kelly for Pardon Me For Asking

[Sources: DNA, NYT, WSJ, Eagle, PMFA | Photos: Pardon Me for Asking]

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