While some thought the Eiffel Tower was on fire, Paris police tweeted that the smoke was actually from a truck carrying fireworks that accidentally caught fire nearby.
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Bastille Day is celebrated every year on July 14 in France and French-speaking regions around the globe.
Videos from the capital showed plumes of thick black smoke rising from the base of the world famous landmark at the same time as the horror attack in Nice was unfolding that has so far killed more than 70 people. The fire triggered massive panic as it followed an earlier attack in Nice, where a truck plowed into a crowd, killing dozens.
He also said the government meant to extend the state of emergency, which has been in place since the November 13 terror attacks on Paris, until October. No group has yet claimed the responsibility for the terrorist attack in Nice.
The incident comes after a day of revelry as France celebrated its national day, Bastille Day, which began with military pomp and ceremony as its armed forces, tanks and fighter jets swooped down the Champs-Elysees avenue.
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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.
