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| Nice attack: truck driver named as France mourns 84 killed in Bastille Day atrocity – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.46pm BST | |
| 13:46 | |
| A team of experts from Interpol has been dispatched to Nice to help identify the victims. | |
| INTERPOL Incident Response Team being deployed to #Nice to provide disaster victim identification assistance | |
| 1.44pm BST | |
| 13:44 | |
| A security alert at Nice airport has been lifted after passengers were evacuated to allow soldiers to search the terminal. | |
| The airport’s website showed flights leaving and landing as usual. In a message posted to the site’s home page, the airport said: “Despite the dreadful events that occurred, access to the airport and Air traffic won’t be disrupted.” | |
| 1.38pm BST | |
| 13:38 | |
| Henry McDonald | |
| The western Irish city of Galway has remembered the victims of Nice attack, just after the city was awarded European Capital of Culture for 2020. | |
| Up to a thousand people who gathered in Galway’s Mainguard Street to watch a live TV screening of the Capital of Culture result stood and applauded in memory of those who died in the terror attack. The organisers also flew the French flag alongside the light blue flag of the Galway bid in solidarity with France today. | |
| Irish Culture Minister Heather Humphreys noted that one of the aims of the European City of Culture initiative was to bring the people of Europe closer together and improve mutual understanding. In reflecting on the attack in Nice the Minister said: | |
| “We can only respond to such attacks by strengthening our resolve and commitment to our culture and our way of life in Europe. It is at moments such as this that we say aloud that we will not stop celebrating what is great about living in Ireland, in France or in Europe. | |
| “Our cultural expression was central to the respectful way, this year, that we in Ireland marked the centenary of the birth of our sovereign nation. Last night thousands of locals and visitors were enjoying France’s cultural celebration of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.” | |
| In passing on her sympathy to the victims and their families Minister Humphreys stated that these values will prevail in Europe no matter the provocation. | |
| 1.33pm BST | |
| 13:33 | |
| An eight-month-old baby boy lost in the chaos after the attack has been tracked down through Facebook, AFP reports. | |
| Tiava Banner - who said she was not the mother of the baby - sent out an appeal on Facebook looking for any information on the whereabouts of the child who had been lost in his blue stroller when the rampaging truck sent hundreds fleeing in panic as they watched Bastille Day fireworks. | |
| The post was shared thousands of times until it was updated with: “Found! Thank you Facebook and all those who helped us.” | |
| A member of the family contacted by AFP on Friday said: “A young woman found him and took him home with her. She then went online and found the photo of the baby on Facebook.” | |
| The woman then contacted the baby’s parents. | |
| Dozens of other people appealed through social media to find missing loved ones. | |
| “We are worried to death”, “We haven’t heard from him since he went to see the fireworks”, were some of the messages. | |
| 1.28pm BST | |
| 13:28 | |
| A German journalist who witnessed the Nice attack said he saw a motorcyclist chase the killer truck and try to enter the cabin but fall and end up under the wheels. | |
| Richard Gutjahr, 42, who shot smartphone video footage of the attack gave this graphic account to AFP | |
| “I stood on the balcony, right on the Promenade des Anglais, and saw how people celebrated there, and how suddenly a truck drove through the crowd. | |
| “Surprisingly, he drove very slowly, not fast, he drove slowly and he was chased by a motorcyclist. | |
| “The motorcyclist attempted to overtake the truck and even tried to open the driver’s door, but he fell and ended up under the wheels of the truck. | |
| “Then the driver stepped on the accelerator and the truck sped up, accelerated and drove in a zig-zag course into the crowd. | |
| “In the next 15 to 20 seconds there were shots from several guns. I don’t know who shot at whom.” | |
| “The panicked crowd ran in all directions. Those who could save themselves ran into the hotels, or sought security in the hotel entrances. | |
| “Right afterwards I personally saw 12 dead bodies, and it was already clear there would be more.” | |
| 1.24pm BST | |
| 13:24 | |
| The dead suspect came from the Tunisian town of Msaken and was not known to hold radical Islamist views, Tunisian security sources, have told Reuters. | |
| The man, identified by French police sources as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, was not known by the Tunisian authorities. | |
| Bouhlel was married with three children, they said. The sources did not say when he had last been resident in Tunisia, but said he last visited Msaken four years ago. | |
| 1.20pm BST | |
| 13:20 | |
| Mark Tran | |
| British Airways will allow passengers to fly to Nice on different dates or change destinations following the Bastille Day attack on the Riviera resort that has left at least 84 people dead. | |
| A spokeswoman for BA said: “Following the tragic events in Nice we are contacting customers to give our support and offer to change their flight if they wish. We’d encourage customers in Nice to get in touch with us if they want to make a change to their booking and we will do everything we can to help. | |
| “For customers booked to travel to Nice in the next few days we are offering to change their booking to an alternative date or destination. We’ll continue to be as flexible as possible to help our customers. Our deepest sympathies are with the loved ones of the victims.” | |
| Related: BA says passengers can change travel plans following Nice attack | |
| 1.18pm BST | |
| 13:18 | |
| What we know so far | |
| The attack | |
| The suspect | |
| French government response | |
| International response | |
| Britain’s response | |
| 1.10pm BST | 1.10pm BST |
| 13:10 | 13:10 |
| Suspect named | Suspect named |
| The police have named the suspect as 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, after his identity papers were found in the truck, AFP reports. | The police have named the suspect as 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, after his identity papers were found in the truck, AFP reports. |
| Neighbours portrayed him as a solitary figure who rarely spoke and did not even return greetings when their paths crossed in the four-storey block, located in a working-class neighbourhood of Nice. | Neighbours portrayed him as a solitary figure who rarely spoke and did not even return greetings when their paths crossed in the four-storey block, located in a working-class neighbourhood of Nice. |
| Sebastien, a neighbour who spoke on condition that his full name was not used, said Lahouaiej-Bouhlel did not seem overtly religious, often dressed in shorts and sometimes wore work boots. | Sebastien, a neighbour who spoke on condition that his full name was not used, said Lahouaiej-Bouhlel did not seem overtly religious, often dressed in shorts and sometimes wore work boots. |
| He had a van parked nearby and owned a bike, which he brought up into his first-floor apartment. | He had a van parked nearby and owned a bike, which he brought up into his first-floor apartment. |
| Of those who were interviewed, only one, a neighbour on the ground floor, said she had had any concerns about him - he was “a good-looking man who kept giving my two daughters the eye.” | Of those who were interviewed, only one, a neighbour on the ground floor, said she had had any concerns about him - he was “a good-looking man who kept giving my two daughters the eye.” |
| Police investigators and forensic experts entered his apartment around 9.30am (0730 GMT) with an armed police intervention unit in support, and brought out bags of material later. | Police investigators and forensic experts entered his apartment around 9.30am (0730 GMT) with an armed police intervention unit in support, and brought out bags of material later. |
| A source close to the investigation said an “inactive” grenade was found inside the vehicle, as well as “several fake rifles.” | A source close to the investigation said an “inactive” grenade was found inside the vehicle, as well as “several fake rifles.” |
| “Investigations are currently underway to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled,” interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. | “Investigations are currently underway to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled,” interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. |
| L'appartement du terroriste présumé de Nice passé au peigne fin ce matin pic.twitter.com/n6Qp15NmIA | L'appartement du terroriste présumé de Nice passé au peigne fin ce matin pic.twitter.com/n6Qp15NmIA |
| 12.35pm BST | 12.35pm BST |
| 12:35 | 12:35 |
| Small number of British citizens injured | Small number of British citizens injured |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| A small number of British nationals have been injured in the Nice attack, Downing Street has said. | A small number of British nationals have been injured in the Nice attack, Downing Street has said. |
| Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, said earlier that one UK citizen was hurt but the government is now aware of more than one casualty. It was confirmed after an emergency Cobra meeting of officials, which took place on Friday morning involving staff from the intelligence agencies, Foreign Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Met police, Department for Transport and the British embassy in Paris. | Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, said earlier that one UK citizen was hurt but the government is now aware of more than one casualty. It was confirmed after an emergency Cobra meeting of officials, which took place on Friday morning involving staff from the intelligence agencies, Foreign Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Met police, Department for Transport and the British embassy in Paris. |
| A UK consular team of eight, including the British ambassador, has already been sent to Nice and further four are on their way. Britain has offered investigative support and to continue close cooperation on intelligence. | A UK consular team of eight, including the British ambassador, has already been sent to Nice and further four are on their way. Britain has offered investigative support and to continue close cooperation on intelligence. |
| After the Cobra meeting, No 10 confirmed the threat level to the UK remains at severe and police are reviewing security around large public events due to take place this summer. | After the Cobra meeting, No 10 confirmed the threat level to the UK remains at severe and police are reviewing security around large public events due to take place this summer. |
| “It is the prudent, cautious, right thing to do in this situation,” May’s official spokeswoman said. | “It is the prudent, cautious, right thing to do in this situation,” May’s official spokeswoman said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.04pm BST | at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.34pm BST | 12.34pm BST |
| 12:34 | 12:34 |
| Here’s video of Theresa May making her statement: | Here’s video of Theresa May making her statement: |
| 12.33pm BST | 12.33pm BST |
| 12:33 | 12:33 |
| Mark Tran | Mark Tran |
| One of the victims has been named as Fatima Charrihi. Her son, Hamza, told l’Express magazine: “She wore the veil, followed a moderate Islam. Real Islam. Not that of the terrorists.” | One of the victims has been named as Fatima Charrihi. Her son, Hamza, told l’Express magazine: “She wore the veil, followed a moderate Islam. Real Islam. Not that of the terrorists.” |
| Hamza and his father were at the Mediterranean University Centre, transformed into one of the refuge centres for relatives of the victims. Fatima Charrihi had died a few hours before. | Hamza and his father were at the Mediterranean University Centre, transformed into one of the refuge centres for relatives of the victims. Fatima Charrihi had died a few hours before. |
| 12.16pm BST | 12.16pm BST |
| 12:16 | 12:16 |
| Here is a map of last night’s attacks | Here is a map of last night’s attacks |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.20pm BST | at 12.20pm BST |
| 12.07pm BST | 12.07pm BST |
| 12:07 | 12:07 |
| Security at major British events to be reviewed | Security at major British events to be reviewed |
| The National Police Chief’s Council has ordered a security review of all major events in Britain over the next seven days. | The National Police Chief’s Council has ordered a security review of all major events in Britain over the next seven days. |
| In a statement Neil Basu, National Operational Lead for Protect and Prepare, said: “As I have following previous terrorist incidents, today I have asked all forces to review major events over the next seven days to ensure the appropriate security is in place.” | In a statement Neil Basu, National Operational Lead for Protect and Prepare, said: “As I have following previous terrorist incidents, today I have asked all forces to review major events over the next seven days to ensure the appropriate security is in place.” |
| It added: “Our counter terrorism officers will do whatever we can to support our French counterparts in the days and weeks that follow as the investigation unfolds. | It added: “Our counter terrorism officers will do whatever we can to support our French counterparts in the days and weeks that follow as the investigation unfolds. |
| “UK policing continues to operate at a heightened state against the backdrop of a severe threat level - that level has been in place since 2014. | “UK policing continues to operate at a heightened state against the backdrop of a severe threat level - that level has been in place since 2014. |
| “Our policing tactics and security measures are constantly reviewed and we, along with our partners, are working around the clock to keep our cities as safe as can be.” | “Our policing tactics and security measures are constantly reviewed and we, along with our partners, are working around the clock to keep our cities as safe as can be.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.38pm BST | at 12.38pm BST |
| 12.03pm BST | 12.03pm BST |
| 12:03 | 12:03 |
| Jason Burke | Jason Burke |
| The use of a truck as a weapon is new, writes Jason Burke. | The use of a truck as a weapon is new, writes Jason Burke. |
| French authorities – like counterparts around the world – have learned that the most lethal attacks in their country have been perpetrated by individuals or networks with connections to outside organisations. | French authorities – like counterparts around the world – have learned that the most lethal attacks in their country have been perpetrated by individuals or networks with connections to outside organisations. |
| Mohamed Merah, who killed seven in a shooting spree in 2012, was initially described as a lone wolf but found to be connected to a breakaway al-Qaida faction. Those who attacked Charlie Hebdo magazine last year had a tenuous link to al-Qaida in Yemen. The more recent strikes, including those in November last year and in Belgium in March, involved a well-established network linked to Isis. | Mohamed Merah, who killed seven in a shooting spree in 2012, was initially described as a lone wolf but found to be connected to a breakaway al-Qaida faction. Those who attacked Charlie Hebdo magazine last year had a tenuous link to al-Qaida in Yemen. The more recent strikes, including those in November last year and in Belgium in March, involved a well-established network linked to Isis. |
| Even now, amid the terrible grief and chaos of the aftermath of this latest tragedy, security services in France, around Europe and beyond will have the clinical work of tracing out the killer’s background and connections well under way. | Even now, amid the terrible grief and chaos of the aftermath of this latest tragedy, security services in France, around Europe and beyond will have the clinical work of tracing out the killer’s background and connections well under way. |
| Related: France attack: use of truck in Nice demonstrates evolving nature of threat | Related: France attack: use of truck in Nice demonstrates evolving nature of threat |