This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36800730
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 20 | Version 21 |
|---|---|
| Nice attack: At least 84 killed by lorry at Bastille Day celebrations | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 84 people have died, including children, after a lorry slammed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice. | At least 84 people have died, including children, after a lorry slammed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice. |
| The driver ploughed on for 2km (1.2 miles) on the Promenade des Anglais at about 23:00 local time, before being shot dead by police. | The driver ploughed on for 2km (1.2 miles) on the Promenade des Anglais at about 23:00 local time, before being shot dead by police. |
| Witnesses say the speeding lorry swerved and zigzagged in an apparent attempt to hit more people. | Witnesses say the speeding lorry swerved and zigzagged in an apparent attempt to hit more people. |
| Police reportedly found guns and grenades inside the lorry. | Police reportedly found guns and grenades inside the lorry. |
| President Francois Hollande, who has now arrived in Nice, said the attack was of "an undeniable terrorist nature". | President Francois Hollande, who has now arrived in Nice, said the attack was of "an undeniable terrorist nature". |
| A state of emergency, in place since November's Paris attacks carried out by militant from the Islamic State group, in which 130 people died, has been extended by three months. | A state of emergency, in place since November's Paris attacks carried out by militant from the Islamic State group, in which 130 people died, has been extended by three months. |
| Warning: This story contains images some people may find distressing | |
| The attack in Nice began shortly after the end of a firework display on the seafront for Bastille Day, which is the country's national holiday. | The attack in Nice began shortly after the end of a firework display on the seafront for Bastille Day, which is the country's national holiday. |
| What witnesses saw | What witnesses saw |
| "I heard lots of screams and everybody was running in different directions. I didn't know what was going on, it felt surreal and I didn't move but thought it must be some kind of practical joke. | "I heard lots of screams and everybody was running in different directions. I didn't know what was going on, it felt surreal and I didn't move but thought it must be some kind of practical joke. |
| "Then I saw the truck coming straight at me swerving all over the place. It was perhaps 50 yards away. After that there was no conscious thought, my body took over, time slowed down and I ran and thank God I got out of the way," said Pouya, from Toronto | "Then I saw the truck coming straight at me swerving all over the place. It was perhaps 50 yards away. After that there was no conscious thought, my body took over, time slowed down and I ran and thank God I got out of the way," said Pouya, from Toronto |
| Wassim Bouhlel, a Nice resident, said: "It zigzagged - you had no idea where it was going. My wife... a metre away... she was dead. The lorry ripped through everything... poles, trees. We have never seen anything like it. Some people were hanging on the door and tried to stop it." | |
| Nader el-Shafei told the BBC he saw the driver face-to-face for about a minute: "He was very nervous… looking for something around him, I kept yelling at him and waving my hands to stop... he picked up his gun and started to shoot police." | Nader el-Shafei told the BBC he saw the driver face-to-face for about a minute: "He was very nervous… looking for something around him, I kept yelling at him and waving my hands to stop... he picked up his gun and started to shoot police." |
| Afterwards he said he ran towards the beach with others, fearing the driver, who has then shot by police, would detonate the lorry. | Afterwards he said he ran towards the beach with others, fearing the driver, who has then shot by police, would detonate the lorry. |
| Who were the victims? | |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Nice says there is an eerie sense of unease and disbelief in the city that jars with the beautiful beachfront surroundings, which is popular with tourists. | |
| Nice residents and tourists were among those who died in the night-time attack. | |
| Two American citizens, a Ukrainian and a Russian are among the 84 victims. | |
| About 50 people were also injured, 18 critically. | |
| Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, told local media that about 10 children were among those killed. | Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, told local media that about 10 children were among those killed. |
| Fondation Lenval, the children's hospital in Nice, says it has treated some 50 children and adolescents, including two who died during or after surgery, the Associated Press news agency reports. | Fondation Lenval, the children's hospital in Nice, says it has treated some 50 children and adolescents, including two who died during or after surgery, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| Analysis by BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | Analysis by BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
| This is not the first time in recent years that someone has deliberately driven a truck into pedestrians on a French street. But the scale, speed and death toll from this apparent attack are unprecedented. | This is not the first time in recent years that someone has deliberately driven a truck into pedestrians on a French street. But the scale, speed and death toll from this apparent attack are unprecedented. |
| It follows an earlier call by so-called Islamic State (IS) spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani for IS followers to do exactly what this truck driver did. This, and other calls for attacks in Europe, are partly in response to the significant losses being experienced by IS to the shrinking territory it controls in Syria and Iraq. | It follows an earlier call by so-called Islamic State (IS) spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani for IS followers to do exactly what this truck driver did. This, and other calls for attacks in Europe, are partly in response to the significant losses being experienced by IS to the shrinking territory it controls in Syria and Iraq. |
| US-led airstrikes, including by French warplanes, are taking a particularly heavy toll there. At home, France has become the number one target of opportunity for IS and its supporters, unperturbed by the national state of emergency that has just been extended. | US-led airstrikes, including by French warplanes, are taking a particularly heavy toll there. At home, France has become the number one target of opportunity for IS and its supporters, unperturbed by the national state of emergency that has just been extended. |
| What we know about the attacker | What we know about the attacker |
| No group has so far said it was behind the attack. | No group has so far said it was behind the attack. |
| The identity papers of a 31-year-old French-Tunisian were reportedly found in the truck. | The identity papers of a 31-year-old French-Tunisian were reportedly found in the truck. |
| He has been named by local media as Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, although not by police. | |
| He lived in Nice and had been in trouble with the police in the past for petty crime, but he was not on the watch list of radicalised young men. | He lived in Nice and had been in trouble with the police in the past for petty crime, but he was not on the watch list of radicalised young men. |
| Response | |
| Mr Hollande addressed the nation in the early hours of Friday saying France had been "badly hit" but was strong, adding "we need to do everything we can to fight against" such attacks. | Mr Hollande addressed the nation in the early hours of Friday saying France had been "badly hit" but was strong, adding "we need to do everything we can to fight against" such attacks. |
| "All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism," he said. | "All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism," he said. |
| The president added that "operational reserves" would be deployed to support the army and security forces across the country, with particular focus on the borders. | The president added that "operational reserves" would be deployed to support the army and security forces across the country, with particular focus on the borders. |
| French Prime Minister Manuel Valls later declared three days of national mourning, starting from Saturday, and said the goal of terrorists was to "instil fear and panic". | |
| "But France is a great country and a great democracy that will not allow itself to be destabilised," he said. | "But France is a great country and a great democracy that will not allow itself to be destabilised," he said. |
| US President Barack Obama condemned "in the strongest terms" what he said appeared to be "a horrific terrorist attack in Nice". | US President Barack Obama condemned "in the strongest terms" what he said appeared to be "a horrific terrorist attack in Nice". |
| UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "shocked and saddened by the horrifying attack in Nice". | UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "shocked and saddened by the horrifying attack in Nice". |
| "If, as we fear, this was a terrorist attack then we must redouble our efforts to defeat these brutal murderers who want to destroy our way of life," she said. | "If, as we fear, this was a terrorist attack then we must redouble our efforts to defeat these brutal murderers who want to destroy our way of life," she said. |
| Nice's jazz festival has been cancelled and the southern city of Marseille has announced it is cancelling a fireworks show planned to take place on Friday evening. | Nice's jazz festival has been cancelled and the southern city of Marseille has announced it is cancelling a fireworks show planned to take place on Friday evening. |
| The hashtag #PrayForNice it trending worldwide and in France #NousSommesUnis (we are united) is also trending. | The hashtag #PrayForNice it trending worldwide and in France #NousSommesUnis (we are united) is also trending. |
| Timeline of terror: France's deadliest Islamist attacks | Timeline of terror: France's deadliest Islamist attacks |
| Are you in Nice? Did you see what took place on Promenade des Anglais? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Nice? Did you see what took place on Promenade des Anglais? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |