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| Nice attack: France mourns after 84 killed in Bastille Day atrocity – live | Nice attack: France mourns after 84 killed in Bastille Day atrocity – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.28am BST | |
| 11:28 | |
| Holly Watt | |
| A label on the side of the truck suggests it was hired from Via Location. | |
| A spokeswoman for the company said she could not discuss the matter, citing an instruction from the interior ministry. | |
| 11.21am BST | |
| 11:21 | |
| The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, and interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, have arrived in Nice. They are about to greet President Françoise Hollande at the airport. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.24am BST | |
| 11.18am BST | |
| 11:18 | |
| Theresa May has said Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with France. | |
| She also insisted Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist murderers. | |
| She could not confirm Boris Johnson’s report that a British citizen was among the injured. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.24am BST | |
| 11.08am BST | |
| 11:08 | |
| Britain's emergency committee to meet | |
| Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, has said Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist “murderers” after the “horrifying” attack in Nice. | |
| She also called a meeting of senior officials in the government’s emergency Cobra committee. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.25am BST | |
| 11.04am BST | |
| 11:04 | |
| Rachel Obordo | |
| People who were on the promenade last night have been getting in touch with us. | |
| Maciej is studying French in Nice. He said: “I watched the fireworks with a friend and right after they ended, we went to a nearby store to get something to drink. As we were heading back to enjoy our drinks on the beach, which is located just below the boulevard, we were slowed by the crowd of people leaving the area. Suddenly, just a few feet in front of us, we saw the big white truck driving at a high speed on the sidewalk still thick with spectators. | |
| “We could hear the sound of the truck hitting people, like empty thuds ... people started to run away in panic … As I was walking to my residence, I saw people in the streets sobbing, some of them on their phones with despair in their voices, some of them being led by others … I am enrolled in a language course here in Nice and the staff were going door-to-door this morning to account for the people who start their classes in the afternoon today.” | |
| While at a bar in the Old Town, Anne Morris said she saw people fleeing from the promenade. “Hundreds of people were running past the bar,” she said. “We had no 3G/4G access so no one knew what had happened. The bar closed and we took the back streets home as we had been told to avoid the promenade. I got my first text en route telling me what had happened. Terribly sad today.” | |
| Chris, from Edinburgh, is on her way home with her partner after being on holiday in Nice since Monday. They were watching the fireworks last night before heading into the Old Town. “We decided to get ice cream,” she said. “Everything seemed fine although with hindsight it seemed a bit odd that there were cars trying to desperately get through the crowds. There was one car beeping at everyone telling them to move – we just thought the driver was being rude. | |
| “Suddenly we saw hundreds of people running. Some on their phones, some screaming, all coming from the direction of the sea. It was mass panic and it was horrifying and no one seemed to know what was happening, they just ran.” | |
| If you are in Nice you can share your witness accounts, photos and videos or news tips direct with our journalists by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button in the live blog. | |
| You can also fill in our form or contact us on WhatsApp on +447867825056. | |
| Please think about your security first though when recording and sharing your content. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.27am BST | |
| 10.59am BST | |
| 10:59 | |
| Angelique Chrisafis | |
| Angelique Chrisafis has just filed this from Nice: | |
| From a backstreet behind Nice’s palm-fringed seafront promenade, the large white goods lorry which had been rammed into the crowd to kill 84 people during the attack on the Bastille day fireworks display was visible from a distance, as police cordoned off the scene. | |
| The cab with its windscreen pockmarked with bullet-holes and its front buckled from the crash impact still sat cordoned off at the side of the road as police in the morning heat continued to work at the scene of the carnage. | |
| On the street, Piero Bianculli, 37, an Italian musician who grew up in Nice, had been at his step-father’s apartment on the beach-front watching the fireworks display from the balcony when the lorry hit. | |
| “When had been invited over to watch the fireworks because he had such a beautiful view of the sea,” Bianculli said. | |
| “Suddenly we saw people in the street running and screaming, we thought it was a false alarm or some sort of joke, but when I looked to the right I saw bodies flying in the air, and people thrown to the ground who didn’t get up. I took my binoculars and looked all the way up the Promenade, and saw dead bodies lying scattered where they had fallen, bleeding. There was blood streaming across the street. Police began running to the scene and we heard gun shots. I saw the first news reports saying there were 10 to 15 dead and I knew that I had counted many, many more bodies than that.” | |
| He said: “We pushed our ten-year-old son inside off the balcony, afraid there could be stray shots. If we hadn’t been invited to watch the fireworks from the balcony, we would have no doubt been on the seafront ourselves with family and children. It feels shocking and very, very sad.” | |
| 10.53am BST | 10.53am BST |
| 10:53 | 10:53 |
| France’s ambassador to London, Sylvie Bermann has just given a press conference on the steps of the French embassy. | France’s ambassador to London, Sylvie Bermann has just given a press conference on the steps of the French embassy. |
| “All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the victims,” she said. | “All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the victims,” she said. |
| She thanked the UK government for its messages of solidarity and pointed out that the new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, was at the embassy yesterday to celebrate Bastille day. | She thanked the UK government for its messages of solidarity and pointed out that the new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, was at the embassy yesterday to celebrate Bastille day. |
| “The 14th of July is a very symbolic day. It is a symbol of liberté, egalité and fraternité. And I think that is what terrorists want to fight.” | “The 14th of July is a very symbolic day. It is a symbol of liberté, egalité and fraternité. And I think that is what terrorists want to fight.” |
| She gave a telephone number for British people concerned about loved ones in Nice, as: 00 33 43 17 56 46. | She gave a telephone number for British people concerned about loved ones in Nice, as: 00 33 43 17 56 46. |
| Bermann added: “France is a strong country, it is resilient country, it is united country. We are determined to fight against terrorism. And we will be strong than terrorists.” | Bermann added: “France is a strong country, it is resilient country, it is united country. We are determined to fight against terrorism. And we will be strong than terrorists.” |
| Updated | |
| at 11.01am BST | |
| 10.41am BST | 10.41am BST |
| 10:41 | 10:41 |
| French prosecutors are due to hold a press conference at 5pm local time. | French prosecutors are due to hold a press conference at 5pm local time. |
| #Nice Le procureur de Paris François Molins tiendra une conférence de presse à Nice à 17H00 (parquet) #AFP | #Nice Le procureur de Paris François Molins tiendra une conférence de presse à Nice à 17H00 (parquet) #AFP |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.51am BST | at 10.51am BST |
| 10.38am BST | 10.38am BST |
| 10:38 | 10:38 |
| Mark Tran | Mark Tran |
| Nice had undertaken extensive preparations in case of a terror attack, an effort coordinated by the interior ministry, Le Monde reports. | Nice had undertaken extensive preparations in case of a terror attack, an effort coordinated by the interior ministry, Le Monde reports. |
| A meeting took place on 5 February involving the local authorities of the Alpes-Maritimes department and the interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve. That was in preparation for the Nice carnival, the third largest in the world, after Rio and Venice, and the four Euro 16 football matches scheduled for Nice. | A meeting took place on 5 February involving the local authorities of the Alpes-Maritimes department and the interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve. That was in preparation for the Nice carnival, the third largest in the world, after Rio and Venice, and the four Euro 16 football matches scheduled for Nice. |
| The carnival attended by about one million people posed the first big test. Around 400 local police and 1,400 members of the national security forces were deployed in the department. A simulation exercise took place on 8 March in readiness for the Euro 16 tournament. In case of a massive attack, the injured would be evacuated to hospitals in Cannes, Monaco as well as Nice and Marseille if needed. | The carnival attended by about one million people posed the first big test. Around 400 local police and 1,400 members of the national security forces were deployed in the department. A simulation exercise took place on 8 March in readiness for the Euro 16 tournament. In case of a massive attack, the injured would be evacuated to hospitals in Cannes, Monaco as well as Nice and Marseille if needed. |
| All contingencies were planned for, including a nuclear attack, radiological, bacterological and chemical, bacteriological and chemical attack, François-Xavier Lauch, the sub-prefect of Alpes-Maritimes told Le Monde at the time. Particular attention was given to the possibility of an attack from the sea, which was the case in the assault against hotels in Bombay. | All contingencies were planned for, including a nuclear attack, radiological, bacterological and chemical, bacteriological and chemical attack, François-Xavier Lauch, the sub-prefect of Alpes-Maritimes told Le Monde at the time. Particular attention was given to the possibility of an attack from the sea, which was the case in the assault against hotels in Bombay. |
| 10.31am BST | 10.31am BST |
| 10:31 | 10:31 |
| Peter Beaumont | Peter Beaumont |
| A massive police operation is under way to establish whether a 31-year-old French citizen of Tunisian origin acted alone or with accomplices in his attack on Bastille Day celebrations in Nice. | A massive police operation is under way to establish whether a 31-year-old French citizen of Tunisian origin acted alone or with accomplices in his attack on Bastille Day celebrations in Nice. |
| According to police sources and French media reports, the refrigerated truck used in the attack, which killed at least 84 people and injured hundreds more when it drove into crowds on the city’s Promenade des Anglais, was rented two days ago in nearby Saint-Laurent-du-Var. | According to police sources and French media reports, the refrigerated truck used in the attack, which killed at least 84 people and injured hundreds more when it drove into crowds on the city’s Promenade des Anglais, was rented two days ago in nearby Saint-Laurent-du-Var. |
| The driver was shot dead in the truck after reportedly opening fire with a pistol on police who had surrounded the vehicle. Among items recovered from inside were an identity card, mobile phone and bank card, all linked to the driver. | The driver was shot dead in the truck after reportedly opening fire with a pistol on police who had surrounded the vehicle. Among items recovered from inside were an identity card, mobile phone and bank card, all linked to the driver. |
| He was formally identified by police on Friday morning as they launched a series of coordinated operations across the city. | He was formally identified by police on Friday morning as they launched a series of coordinated operations across the city. |
| The attacker, a 31-year-old Tunisian-born Frenchman who lived in Nice, was known to the police for common crimes – including violence – but not to the intelligence services, a police source said. | The attacker, a 31-year-old Tunisian-born Frenchman who lived in Nice, was known to the police for common crimes – including violence – but not to the intelligence services, a police source said. |
| On Friday morning, police forensics officers were combing through the truck, which remained where it stopped, its front badly damaged and riddled with bullet holes, and its tyres burst. | On Friday morning, police forensics officers were combing through the truck, which remained where it stopped, its front badly damaged and riddled with bullet holes, and its tyres burst. |
| Dramatic details emerged on Friday over how a member of the crowd celebrating Bastille Day on the seaside promenade had tried to stop the lorry just before the driver was shot dead. | Dramatic details emerged on Friday over how a member of the crowd celebrating Bastille Day on the seaside promenade had tried to stop the lorry just before the driver was shot dead. |
| “Someone in the crowd jumped on the lorry to try and stop it,” said Eroic Ciotti on Europe 1. “It was at that moment that the police were able to stop the terrorist. He had fired on the police without hitting them and on the person who tried to stop him.” | “Someone in the crowd jumped on the lorry to try and stop it,” said Eroic Ciotti on Europe 1. “It was at that moment that the police were able to stop the terrorist. He had fired on the police without hitting them and on the person who tried to stop him.” |
| A witness called Nader told BFM television he had seen the whole attack from start to finish, and had initially thought the driver had lost control. | A witness called Nader told BFM television he had seen the whole attack from start to finish, and had initially thought the driver had lost control. |
| “He stopped just in front of me after he [crushed] a lot of people. I saw a guy in the street, we were trying to speak to the driver to get him to stop. He looked nervous. There was a girl under the car, he smashed her. The guy next to me pulled her out.” | “He stopped just in front of me after he [crushed] a lot of people. I saw a guy in the street, we were trying to speak to the driver to get him to stop. He looked nervous. There was a girl under the car, he smashed her. The guy next to me pulled her out.” |
| Nader said he saw the driver pull out a gun and start shooting at police. “They killed him and his head was out the window.” | Nader said he saw the driver pull out a gun and start shooting at police. “They killed him and his head was out the window.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.39am BST | at 10.39am BST |
| 10.16am BST | 10.16am BST |
| 10:16 | 10:16 |
| London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced he will be reviewing safety measures in the UK capital following the attack in Nice, the Press Association reports. | London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced he will be reviewing safety measures in the UK capital following the attack in Nice, the Press Association reports. |
| He declared that London would “stand united” with France and insisted the “poisonous and twisted” terrorists would be defeated. | He declared that London would “stand united” with France and insisted the “poisonous and twisted” terrorists would be defeated. |
| Speaking on a visit to Gatwick airport, Khan said: “I will reassure all Londoners that today we will be reviewing our own safety measures in light of this attack and that I and the Metropolitan police commissioner will do everything possible to keep Londoners safe.” | Speaking on a visit to Gatwick airport, Khan said: “I will reassure all Londoners that today we will be reviewing our own safety measures in light of this attack and that I and the Metropolitan police commissioner will do everything possible to keep Londoners safe.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.36am BST | at 10.36am BST |
| 10.15am BST | 10.15am BST |
| 10:15 | 10:15 |
| Nice-Matin is reporting that police are carrying out a raid on the home of the driver in the Abattoirs area of Nice. | Nice-Matin is reporting that police are carrying out a raid on the home of the driver in the Abattoirs area of Nice. |
| Une perquisition en cours au domicile du chauffeur dans le quartier des Abattoirs https://t.co/m0GJEUosT9 #AttentatNice | Une perquisition en cours au domicile du chauffeur dans le quartier des Abattoirs https://t.co/m0GJEUosT9 #AttentatNice |