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Terror strikes back at France after November 2015,on a day when people celebrating freedom and win over evil.
A truck loaded with guns,explosives and other weapons ploughed into a crowd in the French resort of Nice Thursday, leaving at least 77 dead and scores injured in an attack after a Bastille Day fireworks display, officials said.
The driver of the truck was shot dead by police after creating havoc in two kilometers length through the crowd on the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, sending hundreds fleeing in terror and leaving the area strewn with bodies.
US President @BarackObama condemns 'what appears to be horrific terrorist attack' in #Nice pic.twitter.com/5ytzrmZ7UX
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 15, 2016
“An individual drove a truck into the crowd. He was killed by police,” said interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet. French-Tunisian Identity papers were found in the truck, a police source said.
US President Barack Obama condemned “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack”, although no group had claimed responsibility for the incident.
"We must show our absolute vigilance" in wake of Nice attack, @fhollande says in address: https://t.co/xLoviWrmAT pic.twitter.com/FqshLBQBvs
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 15, 2016
"We heard gunfire, moments later 100s of people started to run from Promenade" – eyewitness https://t.co/e63qWMQ4b6 https://t.co/mnKTtpCR4t
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 15, 2016
"This huge panic erupted, everyone was running" – Nice attack eyewitness Grace-Ann Morrow https://t.co/zrSfEjtIrc https://t.co/HdaFhvvJyT
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 14, 2016
Bastille Day fireworks display was on and People were watching when the incident took place. Hours after the attack, dozens of bodies lay on the ground covered in white sheets.
Prosecutors said the probe would be handled by anti-terrorist investigators.
“Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled,” the interior ministry spokesman said, but he denied reports that a hostage-taking incident had taken place.
President Francois Hollande’s office said he would preside over a meeting of the country’s defence and security chiefs on Friday.
‘People were tripping over’
The bloodshed comes eight months after ISIS jihadist attacks on Paris nightspots left 130 people dead, dealing a hard blow to tourism in one of the world’s top destinations.
ISIS has repeatedly singled out France as a prime target, and the country has been under a state of emergency ever since the November 13 Paris attacks.
‘Stay in your homes’
The holiday typically ends with spectacular fireworks over the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as well as cities around the country.However celebrations were quickly overshadowed.
“The driver of a van appears to have killed dozens. Stay in your homes for now. More info to follow,” said Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi.
Over the past week France had been breathing a sigh of relief after successfully hosting the month-long Euro 2016 football championship, which passed off without incident.
French Government has set up an emergency crisis number in Nice: +33-8-20-26-06-06
Indian Embassy’s Paris helpline: +33-1-40507070
Sec. Kerry: #Nice attack is 'attack against innocent people on a day that celebrates Liberty, Equality & Fraternity' pic.twitter.com/Hu20EGPUuE
— ABC News (@ABC) July 15, 2016
#NiceAttack: 60 dead, several injured after truck plows into Bastille Day crowd in France pic.twitter.com/PI7JmhoHD7
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 15, 2016
The driver of a lorry deliberately rammed crowds in Nice. At least 77 people were killed https://t.co/cvS1pgQbCA pic.twitter.com/zY8P4jRyFr
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 15, 2016
Photo Credit – www.cbsnews.com
With inputs from Reuters and others
