Local women safe after brush with terror in Paris

WASHINGTON - Two local women are back home and safe after they were less than two blocks away from the theater in Paris were this weekend's terror attack took place.

Melissa Torres-Montoya and Elizabeth Gonzalez joined FOX 5 Monday after returning home Saturday. The two were in a restaurant when news of the attack spread.

"Paris is a really magical city, we had great day, we were walking around. People were out having dinner. It was very lovely. Then it took a terrifying turn," Elizabeth told us. They said they were instructed to shelter under tables, and while they tried to remain calm, there came a point when neither was sure if they were safe.

The two women were barricaded in the restaurant for hours following the attack and said that locals helped them keep themselves together.

The severity of what had happened didn't sink in until days later, even after they returned home. "It's harder to express how grateful you are …that we're here," Melissa told us.