No Thai national is among the casualties from the terror attack in France, according to latest reports on the situation.
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“On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life”.
“France was struck on the day of its national holiday, July 14, the symbol of liberty”, Hollande said Friday, denouncing “this monstrosity” ” a truck bearing down on citizens “with the intention of killing, smashing and massacring”. The attacker was a delivery worker and father of a family, prosecutor Molins said.
But as the last firework fizzled, the gunfire rang out and the white truck accelerated down the crowded street.
Reacting to the news, Emily Winsor, 27, a PR account manager, of Giltbrook, said: “This morning’s news filled me with sorrow”. Police finally surround the stationary truck and fatally shoot its driver.
Wassim Bouhlel, a native of Nice, told The Associated Press he saw a truck drive into the crowd, then its driver emerged with a gun and started shooting.
He said everyone ran, many into a restaurant.
“It’s a new era”, said Thierry Clair, the national secretary for all areas outside Paris for the UNSA police union.
“Attacks aren’t prepared alone”.
“We must work with France and our partners around the world to stand up for our values and for our freedom”.
Hollande called a defense council meeting Friday with key ministers, and will head to Nice after that.
The attack comes as Hollande said on Thursday that France’s state of emergency would not be extended beyond July 26. In November, 130 were killed and 368 injured in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris. The state of emergency was due to expire later this month.
“France is afflicted, but she is strong, and she will always be stronger than the fanatics who want to strike her today”, he said.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack. “You can see wreckage all along the way: a body, bicycles, street lamps and debris everywhere”, he said.
American Dominique Molina, who was watching from a balcony, said the fireworks had just ended and the crowd on the beach was dispersing. “Heard noises, cries that I will never forget”. Photos showed a truck with around 20 bullet holes.
The truck plowed into the crowd over a distance of two kilometers (about 1.2 miles), a lawmaker said, and broadcast footage showed a scene of horror up and down the promenade, with broken bodies splayed on the asphalt, some piled near one another, others bleeding onto the roadway or twisted into unnatural shapes.
“I would like to thank the British authorities because they expressed their sympathy and solidarity”, she said.
“We quickly got back to the hotel and locked the door”.
And it was chillingly amplified in Nice, where a resident hopped into a truck and drove down from the hills onto the seaside promenade.
“Two kilometers. He just kept driving, straight through”.
No country is immune to terrorism and we are united with our French and European partners as we deal with these threats to our countries and our way of life.
He is a 31-year-old Tunisian who had lived in France for 10 years.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 80 people died and 18 were in a critical condition, with many more also wounded. Hospitals in the city have launched an urgent appeal for blood donors.
“The same security setup last night was put in place by the state and local authorities during the Nice carnival in January and the Euro 2016 football tournament”, he said.
The attacks in France and Belgium pose both a security and political challenge to political leaders.
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Terrorist attacks involving vehicles have been more common outside of Europe.
