Brussels - For three tense hours last
night I was hunkered down in a Strasbourg supermarket as a
gunman prowled the city centre after a deadly attack on a
Christmas market.
It was dark, cold and nerve-wracking. But at least we had
fruit, chips and chocolate and a few bottles of wine courtesy of
the store to comfort us.
I had been heading towards Monoprix at Strasbourg's Place
Kleber in search of some snacks after a hard's day at the
European Parliament when a group of people ran past me
screaming.
I did not think much of it as other shoppers around me did
not react, and I thought it might just be youngsters having fun.
At the supermarket, the security guard mentioned a shooting
but did not appear worried. I browsed among the racks of
clothes, moisturisers and lingerie with other customers.
Ten minutes later, staff told us to move to the back, away
from the glass doors after getting a call, presumably from the
police.
I suddenly thought of the school shootings in the United
States and how some of the gunmen methodically searched for
victims as they went from one classroom to another. Hiding among
the clothes did not seem like a great option.
Half an hour later, the staff told us to go down to the
basement, where the food department was, because it was safer.
Safer meant switching off the lights and so about 40 of us,
including the staff, were left in the dark, all working our
mobiles to find out what was happening outside.
Some sat on the cold floor, others stood by the cash
registries while one woman raged, wanting to go home.
To their credit, the Monoprix supervisor handed out bottles
of water to break the tension. Bananas, mandarins and apples
were next on the menu. They also opened packets of chips and
chocolates.
That definitely took people's minds off the situation
outside and the possibility that the gunman might decide to do
some supermarket shooting.
Mobile phones were overworked as all of us called home or
loved ones or texted them, or just to tune into the news to find
out the latest. I also filed some notes to Reuters colleagues.
Remembering my hostile training course, I noted to myself
where the exits were.
Two hours later, after someone complained about the cold
from the freezers, the staff shepherded us up to the top floor
of the supermarket via some narrow steep steps where it was much
warmer.
One opened up a couple of bottles of wine and we sat around
in a circle for a sip. We were not allowed to go near the
windows. The lights were not switched on so we waited in the
dark.
The police called around 11.30 pm, saying we could go home.
We left in groups of 10, following a route marked out by the
police. Everyone was frisked at checkpoints before they were
allowed to go further.
Going to a supermarket will never be the same for me.