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Bastille Day truck attack: French president denounces 'monstrous' killing of 80 people – live updates | Bastille Day truck attack: French president denounces 'monstrous' killing of 80 people – live updates |
(35 minutes later) | |
5.39am BST | |
05:39 | |
Driver known to police – reports | |
French TV station BFM is reporting that the driver of the truck was known to police, but not for terrorism offences. | |
The Guardian is not able to confirm the report at this stage. | |
5.33am BST | |
05:33 | |
Witnesses have told of how parents threw their children over fences to safety as a “stampede” of people rushed down the Promenade de Anglais. | |
smali Khalidi, an American-Palestinian writer who was in the southern French city to visit his sister, told the Guardian: “I have never seen that level of chaos and hysteria and terror.” | |
Read more here: | |
Related: Bastille Day partygoers throw children to safety as truck attack sparks stampede | |
Updated | |
at 5.33am BST | |
5.19am BST | |
05:19 | |
French illustrator @Louison_A has shared this image on Twitter. | |
Non. 💔 #Nice pic.twitter.com/ukaMCHJAmZ | |
Updated | |
at 5.19am BST | |
5.15am BST | |
05:15 | |
Britain’s new foreign secretary has joined the politicians condemning the attack. | |
Shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice, and the terrible loss of life. | |
Updated | |
at 5.29am BST | |
5.12am BST | |
05:12 | |
A 'global failure' of French intelligence | |
After November’s Paris attacks, the French government put in place a state of emergency, which restricts civil liberties. It allows police to conduct searches without a warrant and place people under house arrest outside the normal legal process. | |
A French parliamentary investigation into last year’s terrorist attacks on Paris has identified multiple failings by France’s intelligence agencies. | |
The parliamentary commission was set up to assess the failure to prevent a series of attacks that killed a total of 147 people in 2015 – from January’s gun attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices and a kosher grocery store to the coordinated gun and bomb attacks on 13 November outside the national sports stadium, at bars and restaurants and at a rock gig at the Bataclan concert hall. | |
The commission highlighted a “global failure” of French intelligence and recommended a total overhaul of the intelligence services and the creation of a single, US-style national counter-terrorism agency. | |
Read the full report here | |
Related: From Charlie Hebdo to Bastille Day: France reels after new deadly attack | |
Updated | |
at 5.39am BST | |
5.06am BST | |
05:06 | |
Facebook activated its safety check after the attack in Nice. | |
It’s the third time in five weeks that the social network has deployed the tool, which lets Facebook users who are at or near the site of a natural disaster or terrorist attack inform their friends on the network that they are safe. | |
It was also used in the wake of the attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and after the suicide bombings at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport. | |
Updated | |
at 5.09am BST | |
4.49am BST | 4.49am BST |
04:49 | 04:49 |
Nice hospitals have launched an appeal for blood donations in the wake of the attacks. | Nice hospitals have launched an appeal for blood donations in the wake of the attacks. |
#nice06 > Les hôpitaux lancent un appel aux dons de sang. L'EFS de Nice > 45 rue Auguste Gal à Nice ouvre à 9h30 https://t.co/Lixb3xuKea | #nice06 > Les hôpitaux lancent un appel aux dons de sang. L'EFS de Nice > 45 rue Auguste Gal à Nice ouvre à 9h30 https://t.co/Lixb3xuKea |
Updated | |
at 5.09am BST | |
4.40am BST | 4.40am BST |
04:40 | 04:40 |
The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, has tweeted: “The city of Nice has been hit by terrorism on the day of our national holiday. Immense pain, the country is in mourning. The French will face it.” | The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, has tweeted: “The city of Nice has been hit by terrorism on the day of our national holiday. Immense pain, the country is in mourning. The French will face it.” |
La ville de Nice frappée par le terrorisme le jour de notre Fête nationale. Immense douleur, le pays est en deuil. Les Français feront face. | La ville de Nice frappée par le terrorisme le jour de notre Fête nationale. Immense douleur, le pays est en deuil. Les Français feront face. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.53am BST | at 4.53am BST |
4.38am BST | 4.38am BST |
04:38 | 04:38 |
The British ambassador to France, Julian King, said the embassy’s crisis centre had been activated. | The British ambassador to France, Julian King, said the embassy’s crisis centre had been activated. |
Thoughts with the victims and their families. Our Embassy crisis center has been activated. https://t.co/jtIxD8Nbqg | Thoughts with the victims and their families. Our Embassy crisis center has been activated. https://t.co/jtIxD8Nbqg |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are deeply concerned about reports of an incident in Nice and are in touch with the local authorities to seek more information. “Our thoughts are with those affected and we stand by to help any British nationals.” | |
Updated | Updated |
at 5.06am BST | |
4.27am BST | 4.27am BST |
04:27 | 04:27 |
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has released a statement on the attacks: | John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has released a statement on the attacks: |
Today’s horrendous attack in Nice is an attack against innocent people on a day that celebrates liberty, equality, and fraternity. | Today’s horrendous attack in Nice is an attack against innocent people on a day that celebrates liberty, equality, and fraternity. |
On behalf of all Americans, and especially the great many with close ties to France, I offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who were killed and our hopes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. | On behalf of all Americans, and especially the great many with close ties to France, I offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who were killed and our hopes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. |
I was proud to stand alongside French leaders earlier today at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, and the United States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this time of tragedy. We will provide whatever support is needed. | I was proud to stand alongside French leaders earlier today at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, and the United States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this time of tragedy. We will provide whatever support is needed. |
Our embassy in Paris is making every effort to account for the welfare of US citizens in Nice. Any US citizens in Nice should contact friends and family directly to inform them of their wellbeing. | Our embassy in Paris is making every effort to account for the welfare of US citizens in Nice. Any US citizens in Nice should contact friends and family directly to inform them of their wellbeing. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.53am BST | at 4.53am BST |
4.22am BST | 4.22am BST |
04:22 | 04:22 |
4.19am BST | 4.19am BST |
04:19 | 04:19 |
The UN has joined international condemnation of the attack, calling it “cowardly and barbaric”. | The UN has joined international condemnation of the attack, calling it “cowardly and barbaric”. |
Conseil de sécurité uni contre attaque terroriste à Nice. Tous les membres sont solidaires des victimes & familles. pic.twitter.com/J3oaenEyvV | Conseil de sécurité uni contre attaque terroriste à Nice. Tous les membres sont solidaires des victimes & familles. pic.twitter.com/J3oaenEyvV |
We mourn for the victims of another murderous act of terror in France overnight, on Bastille Day https://t.co/BZ18IJJaKb | We mourn for the victims of another murderous act of terror in France overnight, on Bastille Day https://t.co/BZ18IJJaKb |
Our hearts are breaking for the people of France, again. OPD stands with you & grieves with you. #Nice #BastilleDay pic.twitter.com/WcHYGcUxKx | Our hearts are breaking for the people of France, again. OPD stands with you & grieves with you. #Nice #BastilleDay pic.twitter.com/WcHYGcUxKx |
European and Asian leaders pay respect to victims of #Nice attack. We stand united against violence and hatred pic.twitter.com/NU0IRhZd7H | European and Asian leaders pay respect to victims of #Nice attack. We stand united against violence and hatred pic.twitter.com/NU0IRhZd7H |
Canadians are shocked by tonight's attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims, and our solidarity with the French people. | Canadians are shocked by tonight's attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims, and our solidarity with the French people. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.45am BST | at 4.45am BST |
3.58am BST | 3.58am BST |
03:58 | 03:58 |
What we know so far | What we know so far |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.14am BST | at 4.14am BST |
3.47am BST | 3.47am BST |
03:47 | 03:47 |
François Hollande faces crisis as attacks continue | François Hollande faces crisis as attacks continue |
Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
Hours after the Nice attacks, the French president, François Hollande, reiterated the war-like stance he took after the last terrorist attacks that killed 130 in Paris in November. | Hours after the Nice attacks, the French president, François Hollande, reiterated the war-like stance he took after the last terrorist attacks that killed 130 in Paris in November. |
“All of France is under threat from Islamist terrorism,” he said, vowing that France would not give in in its “fight against terrorism”. | “All of France is under threat from Islamist terrorism,” he said, vowing that France would not give in in its “fight against terrorism”. |
He said the state of emergency put in place in November — which allows police to conduct house raids and searches without a warrant or judicial oversight, and gives extra powers to officials to place people under house arrest — would be extended by three months. This means the state of emergency will have been in place for almost a year since November. | He said the state of emergency put in place in November — which allows police to conduct house raids and searches without a warrant or judicial oversight, and gives extra powers to officials to place people under house arrest — would be extended by three months. This means the state of emergency will have been in place for almost a year since November. |
He also said he would boost the military operation, known as Operation Sentinelle, in which 10,000 soldiers keep guard across the country, and reservists would be drafted in to help security forces. Hollande added that he would reinforce air strikes on Iraq and Syria, where France has been fighting Islamic State. | He also said he would boost the military operation, known as Operation Sentinelle, in which 10,000 soldiers keep guard across the country, and reservists would be drafted in to help security forces. Hollande added that he would reinforce air strikes on Iraq and Syria, where France has been fighting Islamic State. |
The mood could not be more serious for Hollande. The fact that France could be attacked again — leaving at least 80 dead — only eight months after the devastating November attacks on Paris, threatens a crisis for Hollande’s presidency. The fact that several children were among the dead has deepened France’s horror and grief. In the coming days, there is likely to be intense political debate about intelligence and security policy. The 2017 French presidential election is nine months away and security had already been a key voter concern. | The mood could not be more serious for Hollande. The fact that France could be attacked again — leaving at least 80 dead — only eight months after the devastating November attacks on Paris, threatens a crisis for Hollande’s presidency. The fact that several children were among the dead has deepened France’s horror and grief. In the coming days, there is likely to be intense political debate about intelligence and security policy. The 2017 French presidential election is nine months away and security had already been a key voter concern. |
The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, in Nice, said: “We’re in a war with terrorists who want to hit us at any cost and in a very violent way.” | The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, in Nice, said: “We’re in a war with terrorists who want to hit us at any cost and in a very violent way.” |
Hollande had this month been at record low popularity ratings. Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of the Front National, has been polling high is expected to reach the second round runoff of the presidential election, held in April and May. Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing Les Républicains party is engaged in a primary race to choose its candidate. | Hollande had this month been at record low popularity ratings. Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of the Front National, has been polling high is expected to reach the second round runoff of the presidential election, held in April and May. Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing Les Républicains party is engaged in a primary race to choose its candidate. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.02am BST | at 4.02am BST |
3.37am BST | 3.37am BST |
03:37 | 03:37 |
Tom Phillips | Tom Phillips |
Chinese state media are reporting that two Chinese citizens are among those injured in Nice. Speaking while on a visit to Mongolia, the Chinese prime minister, Li Keqiang, condemned “terrorism in all forms” and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. | Chinese state media are reporting that two Chinese citizens are among those injured in Nice. Speaking while on a visit to Mongolia, the Chinese prime minister, Li Keqiang, condemned “terrorism in all forms” and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.03am BST | at 4.03am BST |
3.34am BST | 3.34am BST |
03:34 | 03:34 |
Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
I’ve just spoken to the US-Palestinian writer Ismail Khalidi, who was watching the Bastille Day fireworks at the Promenade des Anglais about 800 metres west of the Hotel Negresco. | I’ve just spoken to the US-Palestinian writer Ismail Khalidi, who was watching the Bastille Day fireworks at the Promenade des Anglais about 800 metres west of the Hotel Negresco. |
Khalidi said he was with a group who were trying to leave the promenade after the fireworks to avoid the crowd, who he said already felt pushy and unsafe, when people began running toward them. It was about 10 minutes after the fireworks had finished: | Khalidi said he was with a group who were trying to leave the promenade after the fireworks to avoid the crowd, who he said already felt pushy and unsafe, when people began running toward them. It was about 10 minutes after the fireworks had finished: |
All of a sudden we saw essentially a stampede of people coming along the Promenade des Anglais. | All of a sudden we saw essentially a stampede of people coming along the Promenade des Anglais. |
The stampede just sort of kept coming … we are talking families, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people. | The stampede just sort of kept coming … we are talking families, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people. |
Then all of a sudden the stampede started coming from the other direction. | Then all of a sudden the stampede started coming from the other direction. |
Khalidi said people who had come from the scene of the attack said police had “told people to start running, without telling people why”. | Khalidi said people who had come from the scene of the attack said police had “told people to start running, without telling people why”. |
I’ve never seen a stampede like that. I have never seen that level of chaos and hysteria and terror and a total lack of information about what’s going on. | I’ve never seen a stampede like that. I have never seen that level of chaos and hysteria and terror and a total lack of information about what’s going on. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.39am BST | at 3.39am BST |
3.31am BST | 3.31am BST |
03:31 | 03:31 |
Zena John, a British tourist on holiday in Nice with her sister, has described how the evening quickly changed from one of celebration to terror. | Zena John, a British tourist on holiday in Nice with her sister, has described how the evening quickly changed from one of celebration to terror. |
Tonight was an amazing, memorable atmosphere for us. We’d had a lovely meal just next to Rue Masséna. | Tonight was an amazing, memorable atmosphere for us. We’d had a lovely meal just next to Rue Masséna. |
We had just finished watching the fireworks and had scarcely returned to sit down when we saw people running and then I started hearing gunshots. | We had just finished watching the fireworks and had scarcely returned to sit down when we saw people running and then I started hearing gunshots. |
I shouted at my sister and friends to run but they were hesitant, trying to look and I shouted again. | I shouted at my sister and friends to run but they were hesitant, trying to look and I shouted again. |
We all ran down our side street and as we opened our gate, many people streamed in behind us. We could hear gunshots very very close. | We all ran down our side street and as we opened our gate, many people streamed in behind us. We could hear gunshots very very close. |
We came in and many people came and waited on the ground floor of our flat till things calmed down. | We came in and many people came and waited on the ground floor of our flat till things calmed down. |
We have a Polish lady sleeping in our flat right now as she lost her partner in the kerfuffle. Sad, sad day. | We have a Polish lady sleeping in our flat right now as she lost her partner in the kerfuffle. Sad, sad day. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.42am BST | at 3.42am BST |
3.24am BST | 3.24am BST |
03:24 | 03:24 |
Interior minister: 'We are at war with terrorists' | Interior minister: 'We are at war with terrorists' |
Bernard Cazeneuve is holding a press conference. He says 80 are people dead and 18 are in intensive care. | Bernard Cazeneuve is holding a press conference. He says 80 are people dead and 18 are in intensive care. |
“Our thoughts go to all the people of Nice who tonight are traumatised and plunged into a great state of worry,” he said. | “Our thoughts go to all the people of Nice who tonight are traumatised and plunged into a great state of worry,” he said. |
Cazeneuve said the police were being mobilised to identify the man behind the attacks and establish if he had any accomplices. | Cazeneuve said the police were being mobilised to identify the man behind the attacks and establish if he had any accomplices. |
“We are at war with terrorists who want to strike us at every cost and who are extremely violent.” | “We are at war with terrorists who want to strike us at every cost and who are extremely violent.” |
Interior minister Cazeneuve in #Nice: “We're at war with terrorists who want to hit us at any cost and in a very violent way”. | Interior minister Cazeneuve in #Nice: “We're at war with terrorists who want to hit us at any cost and in a very violent way”. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.26am BST | at 3.26am BST |
3.16am BST | 3.16am BST |
03:16 | 03:16 |
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump respond | Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump respond |
Paul Lewis | Paul Lewis |
The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have responded to the attack in France with phone-in appearances on US TV networks, offering divergent views over what they both called a “war” against terrorists. | The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have responded to the attack in France with phone-in appearances on US TV networks, offering divergent views over what they both called a “war” against terrorists. |
Donald Trump, who has postponed the unveiling of his vice presidential running mate in response to the attack in Nice, indicated he would be prepared to seek a formal declaration of war from the US Congress and commit ground troops to the conflict. | Donald Trump, who has postponed the unveiling of his vice presidential running mate in response to the attack in Nice, indicated he would be prepared to seek a formal declaration of war from the US Congress and commit ground troops to the conflict. |
Asked by Fox News host Bill O’Reilly if NATO troops should now launch a ground and air offensive against unspecified terrorist targets. “I would say that would be just fine,” Trump reportedly replied. | Asked by Fox News host Bill O’Reilly if NATO troops should now launch a ground and air offensive against unspecified terrorist targets. “I would say that would be just fine,” Trump reportedly replied. |
He said “I would, I would” when asked if he would seek a formal declaration of military action from the US Congress. “This is war,” Trump continued. “If you look at it, this is war. Coming from all different parts. And frankly it’s war, and we’re dealing with people without uniforms. In the old days, we would have uniforms. You would know who you’re fighting.” | He said “I would, I would” when asked if he would seek a formal declaration of military action from the US Congress. “This is war,” Trump continued. “If you look at it, this is war. Coming from all different parts. And frankly it’s war, and we’re dealing with people without uniforms. In the old days, we would have uniforms. You would know who you’re fighting.” |
Hillary Clinton was asked about Trump’s comments during her own appearance on CNN around one our later. She provided a more cautious reply, using similarly bellicose language but questioning the wisdom of being drawn into a ground war against the Islamic State. | Hillary Clinton was asked about Trump’s comments during her own appearance on CNN around one our later. She provided a more cautious reply, using similarly bellicose language but questioning the wisdom of being drawn into a ground war against the Islamic State. |
“I think it is clear we are at war with these terrorist groups and what they represent. It is a different kind of war and we need to be smart about how we wage it and win it. So I think we need to look at all possible approaches to doing just that.” Asked who, precisely, the US was at war against, Clinton said: We’re at war against radical jihadists who use Islam to recruit and radicalize others in order to pursue their evil agenda. It is not so important what we call these people as what we do about them.” | “I think it is clear we are at war with these terrorist groups and what they represent. It is a different kind of war and we need to be smart about how we wage it and win it. So I think we need to look at all possible approaches to doing just that.” Asked who, precisely, the US was at war against, Clinton said: We’re at war against radical jihadists who use Islam to recruit and radicalize others in order to pursue their evil agenda. It is not so important what we call these people as what we do about them.” |
The former secretary of state added that the enemy was “an ideology and not a nation state”, adding that it was misleading to refer to the current conflict as “World War III”. “It is a very different kind of war,” she said, adding that Isis would “love to draw the United States into a ground war in Syria. They actually think the end times would be hastened if we had some confrontation in that region. So we’ve got to be smart about this, not get pushed or pulled into taking action that doesn’t have the positive effect it needs to have.” | The former secretary of state added that the enemy was “an ideology and not a nation state”, adding that it was misleading to refer to the current conflict as “World War III”. “It is a very different kind of war,” she said, adding that Isis would “love to draw the United States into a ground war in Syria. They actually think the end times would be hastened if we had some confrontation in that region. So we’ve got to be smart about this, not get pushed or pulled into taking action that doesn’t have the positive effect it needs to have.” |
Clinton advocated an “intelligence surge”, better cooperation among allies in the fight against terrorism and greater efforts to combat radicalization online. | Clinton advocated an “intelligence surge”, better cooperation among allies in the fight against terrorism and greater efforts to combat radicalization online. |