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2 Boston Area Men In Paris Safe After Attacks

PARIS, France (CBS) -- Sirens cried-out through Paris, many usually bustling cafés stayed quiet. Boston-area native Nate Leet is visiting the city on vacation.

"I was also in Boston when the (Boston Marathon) bombing happened there. It's a similar scenario, a lot of panic," he told WBZ. He said he could hear police cars drive through with their sirens every 10-to-20 minutes.

Nate Leet
Nate Leet (WBZ-TV)

Leet was at dinner when the attacks happened. Text messages from his friends alerted him to the violence.

His Uber driver cancelled on him and there were no cabs available. The only way to get back to his hotel was to walk two miles.

"You don't know if there's going to be anymore (attacks), so that gets your heart going and you get moving faster than you usually would," said Leet.

He took photos of the military and police presence in the city, and he said he felt safe enough to go out.

Nate Leet
Police in France. (Courtesy photo: Nate Leet)

Boston-bred chef Braden Perkins lives in Paris where he owns two restaurants. Even though the attacks were in another section of the city, his patrons stayed through the night.

"Certainly subdued. A lot of nervous energy...people looking at people," he recalled.

Braden Perkins
Braden Perkins (WBZ-TV)

Saturday night he said his restaurant was full as people try to move forward.

"It was surprising. And, I felt very proud for the people of Paris and the people out dining that they took it as another night and carried on," said Perkins.

Many tourist spots and businesses were closed.

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