“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.
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Hollande said he would submit a draft law to the French parliament by next week.
“I saw a truck turning into the road and driving fast in our direction”, he said. “It’s panic. The lorry mounted the Prom – he drove over everyone”.
Christian Estrosi, a former mayor of Nice and now president of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, said in one of a series of Twitter messages that the truck was carrying arms and explosives when it struck the crowd about 10:30 p.m. local time. Officials in the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture urge residents to stay indoors.
“The ANZACS of today [were] leading the Bastille Day Parade in Paris – a recognition of the sacrifice and heroism of a century ago and also of our resolute solidarity with the people of France in the struggle against Islamist terrorism today”, Mr Turnbull said. The Nice-Matin newspaper releases a picture which shows the truck’s windscreen riddled with bullets. Graphic video and photographs flooded social media. He told the wire service that after the truck entered the crowd, he saw the driver emerge from the vehicle with a gun, shooting at people.
According to the reports, gunmen exchanged shots with police before plowing into the crowd of revellers. “We will provide whatever support is needed”, Kerry said. The lorry ripped through everything … poles, trees.
Five to ten minutes after the fireworks ended, police cars rushed past him and an influx of people began running in his direction on the Promenade.
“France is a valuable counter-terrorism partner for Australia”, she said.
“I wasn’t sure what to do, in that situation”.
A truck barreled two kilometers (1.3 miles) down the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, leaving the area strewn with bodies and sending hundreds fleeing in terror. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this awful incident on what was a day of national celebration.
A U.S. official told Fox News that U.S. Homeland Security Jeh Johnson had been briefed on the attack.
“Outside of my window now I see at least 10 covered bodies”, said Tony Molina, who was on vacation from California. “Heard noises, cries that I will never forget”.
President Barack Obama condemned what he said “appears to be a horrific terrorist attack”.
“We are very sorry and very much with the French people and the French government”, he said in at a meeting of Asian and European leaders in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. At least 75 people were killed.
“This is the worst tragedy in the history of Nice, with more than 70 victims already reported”, the regional president said earlier in the evening.
At a news conference, Mr Hollande describes the attack as an act of terror.
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“I have decided that the state of emergency, which was set to end on July 26, will be extended for three months”, he said, hours after saying he wouldn’t prolong it. The country is to strengthen its role in Iraq and Syria. The French interior minister says 80 people have been killed and 18 are in critical condition.
