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Hannah McKay/PA Wire
World News

"Christians need to rise up" in a time of tragedy says Parisian pastor

Robert Baxtor, pastor of the Good Shepard Church in Paris, was speaking after 129 people were confirmed dead following six coordinated terror attacks on the French capital.

AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Mr Baxtor told Premier that terrorist deaths cannot be celebrated: "I believe personally the God is first and foremost a God of mercy and not a God of judgement and so our hearts go out.

"And I believe that our first response, as a Christian, should be to those who are victims, we have to remember that in a time of sorrow it's very normal to look for someone to blame, and it's a natural reaction to blame God.

"And I believe that the devil can take advantage of this, and so Christians really need to rise up and pray for all of those personally affected by this tragedy."

One of the bombers, involved in Friday's terror attacks in Paris, has been identified as a 29 year-old Frenchman who was known to authorities.

Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Foreign & Commonwealth Office/PA Wire

UK citizen, Nick Alexander, who died in the Bataclan massacre, in Paris, France.

Two of his relatives have reportedly been arrested, and separately three men have been detained at the border with Belgium.

Islamic State claims its supporters were behind the shootings and bombings which killed 129 people.

 Steve Parsons/PA Wire
AP Photo/Leo Correa
Hannah McKay/PA Wire

But Robert Baxtor says in all the destruction miracles also happened: "We have heard of numerous miracles that have happened - one friend of mine had been invited to the concert at the Bataclan, that was attacked - my colleague - he decided at the last second not to go.

"He has yet to hear from his colleague [who did attend] - we suspect that he is dead."

Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Robert Baxtor, pastor of the Good Shepard Church in Paris here:

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