Paris attack: Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly safe and well after going to cafe targeted by gunmen

Kelly posted a picture of the Café Le Perle on his Instagram shortly before a series of attacks across Paris left more than 120 people dead

Jack de Menezes
Saturday 14 November 2015 12:32 GMT
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Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly
Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly (Getty Images)

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Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly has confirmed that he is safe and well after he posted a picture on Instagram of a café thought to have been targeted in the Paris attacks.

Former Liverpool player Kelly posted an image of the Café La Perle in Paris along with the caption “Found a decent little spot for tonight #paris #cafeleperle”.

Fans soon expressed their concern for Kelly once the news of the awful attacks across Paris broke, with more than 120 people feared dead and hundreds more wounded.

A number of Crystal Palace supporters tweeted the club’s official account to try and seek assurances that Kelly was alright, and the club’s programme editor, Jonathon Rogers, tweeted early on Saturday morning that the defender had been in touch with him and confirmed he was safe and well.

 

A photo posted by Martin Kelly (@mkelly_34) on

“Got a text from #cpfc's Martin Kelly to say he's fine, thank goodness. Such an awful evening - heart goes out to everyone in Paris,” Rogers tweeted.

Kelly has also been in contact with the club to confirm his safety.

Initial reports on Friday night claimed that the Café Le Perle had been targeted by gunmen in one of at least four attacks across the French capital. The national stadium, the Stade de France, was targeted during the attacks with France and Germany playing an international friendly on Friday night, with an explosion leaving three people dead and more wounded.

Television footage during the match captured the moment the blast happened, with players looking visibly stunned by the loud explosion which occurred at Gate J of the stadium. Fans in attendance were gathered on the pitch where they could be kept safe until the threat had passed, while the German national team were kept at the stadium overnight before returning to Frankfurt on Saturday morning.

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