Relatives search for missing, grief pours out on social media after Paris attacks

London: Scores of appeals for missing people circulated on Twitter and green "I am safe" ticks appeared on Facebook profiles of many Parisians on Saturday, as an outpouring of shock and grief over Friday's deadly assault dominated social media.

Instagram, Twitter and Facebook were flooded with tributes, messages of condolences and solidarity for the victims and for France, with #PrayforParis and #PrayersforParis the top trending hashtags by far.

"I am trying to locate my cousin Callum Hamish MacDonald," one woman wrote in English on Twitter. The 24-year-old father of a toddler was last seen at the Bataclan concert venue, she said.

A man by the name of Jo wrote: "My girlfriend was at the concert. I was supposed to get engaged with her. I don't know if I will see her again." His post on Twitter had been retweeted nearly 3,000 times, with people sending replies of support.

Profile pictures were changed en masse, some showing the blue, white and red stripes of the French tricolour flag across their personal photos, or a roughly painted peace symbol doctored to resemble the Eiffel Tower.