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Nice 'terrorist attack': truck hits Bastille Day crowd killing 70 people – live updates Nice 'terrorist attack': truck hits Bastille Day crowd killing 77 people – live updates
(35 minutes later)
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Jessica Reed
The French Muslim Council has condemned the attack “with the greatest vigor”.
The council statement says “France has been hit yet another time by a terrorist attack of the utmost severity”, adding that this “odious terrorist act took aim at our country on the very day of its national holiday (Bastille Day), a day which celebrates liberty, equality and fraternity”.
The Council called for French Muslims to pray this Friday “to the memory of the victims of this barbarian attack”.
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Relatives of the missing plea for help
Family members of those who have not been in touch since the attack have been posting their details on Twitter in the hope of locating them.
Théo 15 ans en vacance a côté de Nice si vous l'avez vu merci de me tenir au courant en dm #Nice06 #Attentat pic.twitter.com/nWPNDpKfJO
ON RECHERCHE FLORENCE, LAURENT ET ALEXIS CE SOIR #Nice06 #PortesOuvertesNice #Nice pic.twitter.com/TVt0jaqV7m
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Death toll rises to 77
Christian Estrosi, the president of the Nice region, has told iTélé that the death toll is now 77.
77 morts à #Nice selon Christian Estrosi cité par iTele pic.twitter.com/26LRItAs70
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The lobby of the Hotel Negresco has been turned into a make-shift hospital. The lobby of the Hotel Negresco has been turned into a makeshift hospital.
#NiceAttentat : dans le hall du Negresco transformé en hôpital. Les témoins sont entendus par les enquêteurs pic.twitter.com/FsBjNfRVQw#NiceAttentat : dans le hall du Negresco transformé en hôpital. Les témoins sont entendus par les enquêteurs pic.twitter.com/FsBjNfRVQw
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What we know so farWhat we know so far
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'The worst catastrophe our region has seen''The worst catastrophe our region has seen'
Jessica ReedJessica Reed
Minutes ago the president of the Nice region, Christian Estrosi, held a press conference. He said:Minutes ago the president of the Nice region, Christian Estrosi, held a press conference. He said:
This is the worst catastrophe our region has seen in modern history. We now have to mobilise all of our services, all the psychologists, volunteers who are trained to help fellow human beings.This is the worst catastrophe our region has seen in modern history. We now have to mobilise all of our services, all the psychologists, volunteers who are trained to help fellow human beings.
We will work with the imams, priests and rabbis who will also join us to help the victims and families who are suffering and will probably never heal their wounds ... I want to thank people who welcomed passersby and those people who show us tonight that hopefully, solidarity still exists in a world that is too egoistical and individualistic.We will work with the imams, priests and rabbis who will also join us to help the victims and families who are suffering and will probably never heal their wounds ... I want to thank people who welcomed passersby and those people who show us tonight that hopefully, solidarity still exists in a world that is too egoistical and individualistic.
He added that a “high figure of the police forces” had been killed during the attack. He added that a “senior member of the police forces” had been killed during the attack.
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An Australian witness has described the panic in the aftermath of the attack. Sophie Sanderlands said there were “strollers on the ground, people crammed into restaurants”.An Australian witness has described the panic in the aftermath of the attack. Sophie Sanderlands said there were “strollers on the ground, people crammed into restaurants”.
Sophie Sanderlands is on holiday in France and has described the moment she saw thousands of people sprinting #sun7 https://t.co/bmUF3hpdbvSophie Sanderlands is on holiday in France and has described the moment she saw thousands of people sprinting #sun7 https://t.co/bmUF3hpdbv
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Barack Obama releases statementBarack Obama releases statement
On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded.On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded.
I have directed my team to be in touch with French officials, and we have offered any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice. We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack.I have directed my team to be in touch with French officials, and we have offered any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice. We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack.
On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.
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Angelique ChrisafisAngelique Chrisafis
A French parliamentary investigation into last year’s terrorist attacks on Paris last week identified multiple failings by France’s intelligence agencies.A French parliamentary investigation into last year’s terrorist attacks on Paris last week 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 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.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.
“Our country was not ready; now we must get ready,” said Georges Fenech, head of the commission.“Our country was not ready; now we must get ready,” said Georges Fenech, head of the commission.
France has six intelligence units answering variously to the interior, defence and economy ministries. Fenech said the multi-layered, cumbersome intelligence apparatus was like an army of soldiers wearing lead boots.France has six intelligence units answering variously to the interior, defence and economy ministries. Fenech said the multi-layered, cumbersome intelligence apparatus was like an army of soldiers wearing lead boots.
The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, this week rejected the idea of an overhaul. He said some of the report’s other recommendations were already being put in place.The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, this week rejected the idea of an overhaul. He said some of the report’s other recommendations were already being put in place.
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Anti-terrorism police take over the investigation
A spokesman for the interior ministry confirms that – contrary to some reports – no hostages were taken.
“There is no hostage taking,” an interior ministry spokesman, Pierre-Henry Brandet, told AFP, denying dozens of rumours after the attack.
“An individual drove a truck into the crowd,” he said. “He was killed by police.
“Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled.”
Anti-terrorism investigators have taken over the investigation, prosecutors said.
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The date of the attack — France’s national day of celebration — was seen as symbolic only eight months after 130 people were killed in November’s coordinated Paris attacks on a stadium, bars and a rock gig at the Bataclan.
Bastille Day, the most important holiday in France and the equivalent to the 4th of July in the US, marks the day a mob stormed a fortress known for holding political prisoners on 14 July 1789.At the time, France was in economic and political crisis. Taxes were high and food was scarce. There was widespread anger and resentment towards Louis XVI and the increasing militarisation of France.
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Some of the front pages from French and British newspapers:
Tomorrows Le Parisien front page pic.twitter.com/ASvbfkPsQO
Updated Times front page:Dozens of revellers dead in Bastille Day massacre#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #Nice pic.twitter.com/AE6hxQ8F7H
Updated Telegraph front page:Dozens killed as terror strikes French Riviera#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #Nice pic.twitter.com/rJK1IOylyo
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Saeed Kamali Dehghan
Two weeks ago before the Nice attack, the authorities in France had announced that they were beefing up security measures for the holiday season by deploying armed police patrols on the beaches.
Officers belonging to the CRS riot police force, who have previously been equipped with batons and handcuffs, were allowed to wear special holsters carrying weapons for the first time. Bulletproof vests were also to be put at their disposal.
The move came two weeks after an unarmed French police chief and his partner were killed in a stabbing in front of their house outside Paris. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, which has sparked a debate in France about whether the forces should carry weapons outside working hours. France remains in a state of emergency following November’s deadly attacks, which left 130 dead. Read more here:
Related: Armed police to patrol French beaches amid terrorism fears
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Emergency numbers
The central hospital in Nice has released a number for families of the victims.
Le Planc Blanc a été déclenché, le numéro de téléphone pour les familles :04 93 72 22 22
Other countries have set up their own emergency lines.
The Irish Embassy in Paris has asked anyone who needs assistance in #Nice to contact them at +33 (0)144176700
DFAT release re the ongoing incident in Nice, France pic.twitter.com/7hbsVq55h1
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Truck was loaded with weapons
Christian Estrosi, president of the region, says the truck in Nice was loaded with weapons and grenades, according to AP.
Estrosi told BFM TV: “The driver fired on the crowd, according to the police who killed him.”
He said the truck had been driven by someone who appeared to have “completely premeditated behaviour”.
He added that “the truck was loaded with arms, loaded with grenades”.
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Le Figaro reports that, according to the interior ministry, investigators are currently looking for potential accomplice but confirms that there was no hostage taking.
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Donald Trump delays announcing running mate due to Nice attack
In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow's news conference concerning my Vice Presidential announcement.
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Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, has voiced his solidarity with the residents of Nice.
Emotion profonde et tristesse infinie face à l'attaque à #Nice06. Solidarité à l'égard des #Niçois et des habitants des Alpes-Maritimes.
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Death toll rises to 73 – reports
France’s I-Télé TV channel is quoting an unnamed police source who says the death toll is now 73.
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