In the aftermath of the attack, Hollande announced he will extend France’s state of emergency – declared after last November’s attack in Paris and due to expire before the end of the month – for three more months.
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Leeds Civic Hall and the First Direct Arena have been lit red, white and blue in tribute to the dead and the scores of seriously injured civilians mowed down by a terrorist who drove a lorry into Bastille Day revellers in Nice.
She said that he was “a handsome man” and likely “pleasing to women”, but was incredibly private. Footage from the attack showed strollers being raced down the street as crowds fled away from the speeding truck.
One early report claimed the driver of the truck had jumped out of the vehicle and started shooting at police. “You know that the people of France don’t know that Toronto city council is having a moment of silence but we know that we’ve done it. It is a genuine gesture as is the lighting of the sign and as is the vigil”, Tory said.
The killer was identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a French citizen born in Tunisia who was known to police but not on a terror watch list. At least 84 people are now confirmed dead.
France on Saturday began three days of national mourning in homage to the victims – although that hasn’t stopped politicians from sniping at each other over who bore responsibility for the failing to stop the attack.
– Hollande visits Nice, where he says “there are French among the victims and also many foreigners from every continent and many children, young children”. Chief Prosecutor Francois Molins said that 202 people were wounded in the attack.
“We pledge to stand with our French friends as we defend our nations against this scourge of terrorism and violence”, he said.
The identities of most of those brought into custody were not clear.
The weapon used was a palette against another driver after a traffic accident. He wrestled with the driver, who seized a revolver and fired several shots at the man and at police officers who arrived on the scene.
A 9-year-old and his family “have finally been found!” one recent post said atop a photo of a child sitting in front of a birthday cake. It remains unknown as to whether Bouhlel acted alone in the attack.
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Local mayor Estrosi has warned in the past of the risk of Islamist attacks in the region, following Islamic State bloodshed in Paris and Brussels over the past 18 months. We’ll move quickly to correct the record and we’ll only point to the best information we have at the time.
