For many Syrians in the Calais refugee camp in northern France, the terror attacks in Paris on Friday night were particularly disturbing.
Many have fled a bloody civil war in which the Islamic State has played a particularly brutal role.
On Saturday, the extremist group took responsibility for the series of attacks on Paris in which at least 129 people were killed and more than 300 others wounded.
"I can't tell you how I felt when I heard about the attack in Paris last night," said one 25-year-old Kurdish Syrian man from Aleppo. "I fled Syria because of [ISIS]. Last night, I could not sleep. I can't explain my anger at seeing [ISIS] in France."
The man preferred to be known simply by the initial H for security reasons.
"I feel very bad for the French, especially because they sent the Charles de Gaulle warship to carry out strikes against ISIS, to help my people," he said. "I want to say to François Hollande: If you want your people to be safe, you must withdraw Charles de Gaulle because otherwise there will be more attacks by ISIS -- I have seen what they can do."
Another Syrian refugee, 23-year-old Ahmed, said he'd arrived in the Calais camp, also known as The Jungle, about three and a half months ago. He said French police beat him as they caught him trying to get across the fence to get into the Eurotunnel toward the UK.
"The French people have not been kind to me but I feel very bad for them," he said. "I can’t believe that [ISIS] can carry out an attack in France."
On Saturday night, refugees held a vigil at the Calais camp to show solidarity with Paris.
On the night of the attacks, there were reports of fire at the camp in Calais, which some reports described as arson attacks. But aid workers said the fire, which torched scores of tents, was accidental.
The identities of all the Paris attackers are still unknown. As many as eight known assailants died during the attacks -- seven while detonating suicide vests. Another attacker was reportedly killed by police.
A Syrian passport was found at the scene of the attack, and a Greek government official says that same passport is documented as having crossed into the European Union through the Greek island of Leros in October.
Crucial to remember that this type of senseless violence is precisely what refugees are trying to escape. #Paris— Diana Elbasha (@DianaElbasha) November 14, 2015
Online, many expressed concern about a possible backlash against refugees. And some began tweeting support for Muslims under the hashtag #TerrorismHasNoReligion.
Stmt from Greek gov't on possible Syrian attacker who allegedly passed through Leros in Oct https://t.co/ZUjtngNMRQ pic.twitter.com/R5SmcXZVBj— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2015
Now ISIS has claimed responsibility, these words have even stronger meaning. Innocents escaping these animals cannot be blamed #PrayForParis— Dan Holloway (@RFCdan) November 14, 2015
Imagine being fleeing terrorism in your country, and being denied refuge b/c people who look like you committed more terrorism.— daveweigel (@daveweigel) November 14, 2015
On Friday, the International Rescue Committee put out a statement saying it "stands with the people of France and the world in mourning for those who lost their lives."
"We support effective security screening for refugees," the statement said. "Equally, we insist that yesterday's attacks should not be an excuse to undermine the rights of refugees in international law. Those fleeing violence and terror have already been victimized enough."