Nice Attack Live: 84 Dead, 202 Wounded, 77 Critical
A truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday on Thursday night.
- Truck full of explosives rammed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day.
- 84 dead, 202 injured, 25 on life support and 52 in critical condition.
- Brazil will be holding an emergency Olympics security meeting after Nice attack.
- Ex-wife of attacker held for questioning.
- The driver and gunman, who was shot dead by the police, identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel.
- French-Tunisian identity papers have been found in the truck, along with fake rifles and an inactive grenade.
- France has extended its state of emergency by three months.
- Hollande said France is under constant threat from Islamic terrorism.
The Quint traces the route that the Nice truck attacker took before killing 84 people on Bastille Day.
French Prime Minister has said the death toll is likely to rise and that more attacks are possible.
The Interior Minister has said that the attacker’s motives can not be linked to radical Islam at this point.
Following Germany, Italy and Spain have announced that they will re-impose border controls along the French border after the Nice Attack.
French Investigators Yet to Assess if Nice Attacker Worked Alone or in a Group
French security officials are still assessing whether the Nice attacker was working alone or in a group, but the attack bears the hallmark of Islamist militants, the Paris prosecutor said on Friday.
Molins, who said Bouhlel’s ex-wife was in police custody, added that the man had shot several times at policemen before his vehicle was stopped and he was killed.
Police found one pistol and various fake weapons in the truck’s cabin. They later seized a telephone and computer at his home.
Brazil will be holding an emergency Olympics security meeting after Nice attack.
A Paris prosecutor said that ten children and teenagers were killed in the attack.
President Hollande has visited the hospital where the wounded victims have been admitted.
The former wife of the gunman and truck driver has been held for questioning.
People Will Carry the Trauma of the Attack: Hollande
French President, Francios Hollande said that about 50 people are in an absolute urgency between life and death, adding that many of the dead are foreigners.
Alert Lifted at Nice Aiports, Passengers Allowed Inside
The alert at Nice airport has been lifted. Passengers allowed back into the terminal to pick up their bags
Following the attack, the sale procedure for Nice airport–France’s biggest regional airport, has been delayed for eight days, a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry said.
A team of experts from Interpol was sent to Nice to help identify the victims.
Neighbours Described Nice Attacker as a Solitary Man
According to The Guardian, neighbours described Nice attacker, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel as a solitary figure who did not communicate much with people.He often dressed in shorts and boots.
One of his neighbour said that the only concern she had regarding Bouhlel was the fact that he “eyed her two daughters”.
Passengers were seen to be evacuated out of Nice airport. French military were seen inside the closed terminal building. The reasons of the evacuation still remain unclear.
Saudi Clerics Condemn Nice Attack as Crimes by the “Syrian Regime”
Saudi Arabia’s top religious body on Friday condemned the Nice attack that killed 84 people.
The Secretariat of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars also said the world should not be distracted from the war in Syria and what it called crimes by the “Syrian regime.”
Attacker Wasn’t Known to Endorse Radical Views
The attacker who drove a heavy truck into crowds in the French city of Nice killing at least 84 people came from the Tunisian town of Msaken.
According to sources from Tunisian security forces, the attacker, who has been identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, had last visited Msaken four years ago.
Bouhlel was not known by the Tunisian authorities to hold radical or Islamist views, the sources said, adding that Bouhlel was married with three children.
French President Hollande Arrives at Nice
French President Francois Hollande has arrived in Nice where he will be met by the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve to hold a meeting with security officials.
Britain Must Redouble Efforts to Defeat Terrorism: British PM
British PM, Theresa May said Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with France, adding that Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat terrorism. She also said that UK faces severe threats from similar terrorist attacks.
Britain’s emergency committee met on Friday morning to review security around upcoming large public events over the next seven days.
US State Department spokesperson has confirmed that two US citizens are among the dead.
At least 84 people have been killed in the southern French town of Nice when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday on Thursday night. The attack left at least 100 injured, including over 50 children.
The driver, who drove at 50 kilometres per hour for over 100 metres along the famed Promenade des Anglais seafront before hitting the mass of spectators, was shot dead. Officials said weapons and grenades were found inside the 25-tonne, unmarked articulated truck.
A view of a stretch on the Promenade des Anglais where the attack occurred during Bastille Day celebrations.
The attack is suspected to have been orchestrated by the Islamic State. Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was confirmed as the attacker, said newspaper Nice-Matin, citing local sources. The 31-year-old was a resident of Nice with dual French-Tunisian citizenship.
Bouhlel was not on the watch list of French intelligence services, but was known to police in connection with common law crimes such as theft and violence.
The French President, Francois Hollande – who was returning from Avignon to Paris – was soon briefed by officials about the incident.
Facebook has activated its Security Check feature, as has been seen previously in case of several attacks in the Western world.
French Embassy Sends Security Notifications to its Citizens in India
As the French President declared a state of emergency which is in effect within the country’s border, the French embassy in Delhi sent a notification to its citizens in India to be more vigilant.
In the meantime, it is recommended that they follow these instructions:
- Avoid movement across the country as much as possible.
- Large gatherings should be reported.
- Avoid large gatherings in public places.
- Be discreet in public.
France Responds to the Attack
Addressing a press conference, President Francois Hollande said:
He also announced that he will visit Nice with the Prime Minister on Friday.
Previously, France was going to be in a state of emergency till 26 July, but now it will be prolonged for three months, said Hollande.
Interestingly enough, a couple of hours before the attack, Hollande had made a statement on 14 July saying that France cannot be in a state of emergency forever.
The French Minister of the Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve referred to the incident as a terror attack and said:
The French Prime Minister also declared three days of mourning in the country, saying:
Italy Boosts Controls at French Border Crossings
Italy will boost controls at three road crossings into France and at the Ventimiglia train link between the two countries following the attack in nearby Nice, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said on Friday.
France to Strengthen Action Against Syria and Iraq
Hollande said that France would improve their efforts to fight the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
Calling on “operational reservists” or French citizens which may or may not have military experience, as well as former soldiers, the French President also vowed to work on “border controls”.
Sebastien Humbert, Prefect for the Alpes-Maritime area said that the truck rammed into the crowd, resulting in the high numbers of casualties.
Residents of the Mediterranean city close to the Italian border were advised to stay indoors. There has been no other sign of any other attack.
Social media carried images of people lying apparently lifeless in pools of blood.
CNN said it has spoken to a witness, identified as an American pilot, who saw the truck ploughing into the crowd. The witness said the driver mowed people down, accelerating as he hit them. The witness said there was only one person in the truck.
Rihanna Cancels Nice Concert After Attack
Singer Rihanna cancelled her concert scheduled for Friday at the Allianz Stadium in Nice, France in the wake of the truck attack during Bastille Day fireworks.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, announced on Twitter the cancellations of Rihanna’s show as well as other social events that were planned to take place in the city on Friday.
Appalled by the Horrific Attack: PM Modi
Early on Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the attack and condemned it as “mindless acts of violence”.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that there are no reports of Indians being hurt in the incident so far. The Indian Embassy in Paris has also started a telephone helpline to aid any possible victims.
Pranab Mukherjee also tweeted about the attack and expressed solidarity with France.
American President Barack Obama condemned the deadly attack and offered any assistance France might need in order to investigate.
Trump also announced that he has postponed his press conference regarding the Vice Presidential announcement, originally scheduled to take place on Friday.
Speaking to CNN, Hillary Clinton commented on the “war against radical jihadists” and said:
Secretary of State John Kerry expressed US’s support for France and said
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would stand by France’s side in the “fight against terrorism”.
UK’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary also tweeted about the attack:
The pictures and the videos below are graphic. Discretion is advised.
(With agency inputs.)
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