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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Jul 15, 2016, 08:02 PM IST
At least 84 people were killed and scores wounded after a 'terrorist' gunman drove a heavy truck at high speed into a crowd that had watched Bastille Day fireworks in the French Riviera city of Nice late on Thursday.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 18 of the injured were in a critical condition after the 25-tonne truck zigzagged along the seafront Promenade des Anglais as a fireworks display marking the French national day ended just after 10:30 pm
The attack, which came eight months and a day after Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers struck the French capital on a festive Friday evening, seemed so far to be the work of a lone assailant. Newspaper Nice-Matin quoted unidentified sources as saying the driver was a 31-year-old local of Tunisian origin.
The driver also opened fire before police shot him dead.
In a pre-dawn address to the nation, President Francois Hollande said he was calling up military and police reservists to relieve forces worn out by an eight-month state of emergency begun after the Islamic State militant group killed 130 people in Paris. The state of emergency was extended by three months.
"France is filled with sadness by this new tragedy," Hollande said, noting several children were among the dead in what he said he had no doubt was an act of terrorism.
He called the carnage, which came as France celebrated the anniversary of the 1789 revolutionary storming of the Bastille, an attack on liberty by fanatics who despised human rights.
(With agency inputs)
202 were wounded in the Nice truck attack, 25 on life support and 52 in critical condition: Paris prosecutor
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 15, 2016
AFP sources said that Brazil will hold emergency Olympics security meeting following the Nice attack.
French prosecutor said that among the dead, ten are children and teenagers.
Ex-wife of France truck attack suspect held for questioning, says police
Alert at Nice airport lifted, passengers allowed back into the terminal to pick up their bags (Source: AP)
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 15, 2016
Nice airport is being evacuated after an unattended bag was discovered at Terminal 1, an airport official said.
The official said it was a precautionary measure following the attack on the beach front Thursday night that left at least 84 people dead and dozens injured.
Evacuation in progress at Nice Airport
The Latest: Passengers ordered out of Nice Airport, military seen inside closed terminal building. https://t.co/d1iy1fXm33
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 15, 2016
French President Francois Hollande arrives in Nice after truck attack.
At least 50 children hospitalised after truck attack, reports AFP quoting hospital.
France declares three-day national mourning after truck attack
France truck attacker formally identified: Police source
The driver of the truck that smashed into a crowd watching fireworks in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84, has been formally identified, police sources said.
He is a 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian man whose identity papers were found in the vehicle after the attack on France's July 14 national holiday.
Police have not yet released the attacker's name, but they said he lived in Nice. (PTI)
Muslim, Gulf leaders condemn Nice attack
Leading Muslim clerics joined Gulf Arab leaders joined in condemning a truck attack.
Egypt's top Muslim cleric Shawki Allam condemned the assailant as an "extremist" who "follows in the footsteps of the devil."
"Islam never called for the spilling of blood," Allam said in a statement.
"People who commit such ugly crimes are corrupt of the earth, and follow in the footsteps of Satan... and are cursed in this life and in the hereafter."
The six Gulf Arab states issued a joint statement saying that they "strongly" condemned the "terrorist" act in Nice.
Attack in France reflects deep resentment to peace: Sonia Gandhi
Congress President Sonia Gandhi strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice and said that it reflects 'deep resentment' to peace and democratic values.
Expressing her deepest condolences to the families of those killed, the Congress President said that her party stands firmly with the people of France in these difficult times.
Kerry says Nice attack shows need to speed up work against terror
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday told his Russian counterpart in Moscow that the attack in the French city of Nice showed the need to find a faster way to end the 'terrorist scourge'.
Kerry, in opening remarks at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said his talks late on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin had been 'extremely frank and very serious.'
(Leaders stand for a minute of silence for the victims of a deadly attack in the French city of Nice, before the opening session of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 15, 2016. - Reuters)
UN condemns 'barbaric and cowardly' Nice attack
The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the 'barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack'. The council unanimously adopted a French-drafted statement that 'condemned in the strongest terms' the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The council reaffirmed that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to world peace and security. "Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable," said the statement from the 15 council members.
Modi expresses condolence
Appalled by the horrific attack in Nice. I strongly condemn such mindless acts of violence. My thoughts are with the families of deceased.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2016
I hope the injured recover soon. India shares the pain & stands firmly with our French sisters & brothers in this hour of immense sadness.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2016
Nice attack death toll rises to 80: French interior minister
The attacker who mowed through crowds in the French seaside town of Nice killed 80 people and critically hurt 18 more, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.
"We are in a war with terrorists who want to hurt us at all costs," Cazeneuve told journalists hours after an attack that took place when people were watching a fireworks display to mark the country's Bastille Day national holiday.French minister says 80 dead, 18 critical after Nice attack
No Indian affected in Nice attack: MEA
No Indian is reported to be affected in a terror 'attack' in French resort of Nice.
"Our Ambassador in Paris is in touch with the Indian community in Nice. So far no report of any Indians affected," External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
He also said the Indian embassy in Paris had opened the helpline number 33-1-40507070.
Hollande says Nice attack undeniably of terrorist nature
French President Francois Hollande said Thursday's lethal attack on the southern city of Nice was clearly a terrorist assault and that the state of emergency imposed since a previous attack on Paris last November would be extended for another three months.
Speaking after an emergency meeting in the early hours of Friday morning, Hollande said at least 77 people were killed in an attack in which the assailant drove a big truck at high speed into dense crowds who were watching a fireworks display on the country's national Bastille Day holiday.
"There's no denying the terrorist nature of this attack of yet again the most extreme form of violence," the French leader said in a national television address at 4 a.m.
(WARNING: Graphic content) Amateur video shows people tending to injured on streets of Nice. https://t.co/pLPvwLzkfohttps://t.co/DI7Cb9D32p
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 15, 2016
Arms found inside the truck that drove into crowd in Nice -official
Guns and grenades have been found inside the truck that rammed into a crowd at the beachfront southern French city of Nice.
Another government official said the driver of the truck also fired on the crowd before he was killed by police.
Anti-terror investigators put on Nice attack case - media
France's anti-terrorism investigation department was asked to take over inquiries into the attack.
Donald Trump expresses condolence, postpones conference
# Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse.
# In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow's news conference concerning my Vice Presidential announcement.
My prayers and condolences to the victims and families of the terrible tragedy in Nice, France. We are with you in every way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016
Obama condemns 'what appears to be horrific terrorist attack'
US President Barack Obama has strongly condemned what he said appeared to be a "horrific terrorist attack" in Nice.
Obama offered assistance to France to help investigate the attack, which left at least 70 people dead, and "bring those responsible to justice."
"On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians," Obama said.
Nice-Matin posted photographs of the truck, its windshield starred by a score of bullets and its radiator grille destroyed.
La une de Nice-Matin du vendredi 15 juillet : carnage à Nice, neuf pages spéciales #Nice06 pic.twitter.com/5ifSQPClyI
— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) July 15, 2016
# "It's a scene of horror," a local member of parliament, Eric Ciotti, told France Info radio, saying the truck had "mown down several hundred people."
# Local government leader Christian Estrosi put the death toll at 77, while BFM TV later put it at 80. An Interior Ministry spokesman said "several dozen" had died.
