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Nice attack: What we know Nice attack: What we know of the Bastille Day killings
(about 4 hours later)
The killing of 84 people celebrating Bastille Day is the worst attack on France since the 13 November attacks last year. The killing of 84 people celebrating Bastille Day is the worst attack on France since the 13 November attacks 2015.
France has been under a state of emergency ever since and security across the country was high, with intelligence services warning of the risk of further attacks. About 50 remain in hospital "between life and death", President Francois Hollande says.
No group has said it carried out the attack.
This is what we know so far.This is what we know so far.
Panic in NicePanic in Nice
The terror began a little after 22:30 (20:30 GMT) on Thursday, shortly after thousands of people had watched a firework display on the seafront in Nice, at the end of a day marking France's national holiday, Bastille Day.The terror began a little after 22:30 (20:30 GMT) on Thursday, shortly after thousands of people had watched a firework display on the seafront in Nice, at the end of a day marking France's national holiday, Bastille Day.
There had been a mood of celebration and the crowd had enjoyed an air force display during the evening. There had been a mood of celebration and the crowd had enjoyed an Air Force display. Families strolled along the city's renowned Promenade des Anglais.
As families strolled along the city's renowned Promenade des Anglais, a large white lorry careered at full speed towards them. The vehicle mounted the kerb then went back on the road, zigzagging for up to 2km (1.25 miles), as the driver intentionally drove into the crowd. A large white lorry was seen driving erratically a couple of streets away from the seafront promenade. "He was speeding up, braking, speeding up again and braking again. We thought it was weird," said Laicia Baroi. She described how the lorry then turned on to the promenade heading south-west towards the airport.
A local MP spoke of hundreds of people being run over. But it was not for another half hour before the attack began. A German journalist saw events unfold from a hotel balcony, as the lorry doubled back from the direction of the airport, breaching the barriers erected on the promenade opposite the Lenval children's hospital.
Police finally managed to bring the lorry to a halt near the luxury Palais de la Mediterranee hotel. "He was driving really slowly, that's what was astonishing," said Richard Gutjahr, who described seeing the lorry being tailed by a motorcyclist. "The motorcyclist tried to overtake him and even tried opening the lorry driver's door," he told AFP news agency. At that point the motorcyclist fell under the wheels of the lorry.
"I was opposite the Palais de la Mediterranee when I saw a lorry at high speed running over people. I saw it with my own eyes, people tried to stop it," said one witness. When two police officers opened fire on the lorry, the driver accelerated and careered at full speed towards the crowd.
The driver opened fire on people in the crowd, according to local reports. Police fired back and the driver was eventually shot dead. Images from the scene showed the windscreen and front of the lorry raked with bullets. Interior ministry officials said the attacker had been "neutralised". The vehicle mounted the kerb then went back on the road, zigzagging for up to 2km (1.25 miles), as the driver deliberately drove into people.
A local MP spoke of hundreds of people being run over. Others scrambled to safety, on to the beach or into nearby hotels.
"I was opposite the Palais de la Mediterranee [hotel] when I saw a lorry at high speed running over people. I saw it with my own eyes, people tried to stop it," said one witness.
Police finally managed to bring the lorry to a halt near the luxury hotel.
The driver opened fire on them as well as on people in the crowd, according to local reports.
Police surrounded the lorry and fired back. Mobile phone footage appeared to show the moment the driver was shot.
Images from the scene showed the windscreen and front of the lorry raked with bullets. Interior ministry officials later confirmed that the attacker had been "neutralised".
Who was driving the lorry?Who was driving the lorry?
The driver has been identified locally as a 31-year-old man of Franco-Tunisian origin from identity papers found inside the lorry. The driver has been identified as a 31-year-old man of Franco-Tunisian origin, from identity papers found inside the lorry.
He was named locally as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. Police are yet to confirm the details, but were said to be searching his home in Nice. He was named locally as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. Police are yet to confirm the details, but searched Bouhlel's first-floor flat close to Nice train station.
The attacker was said to have hired the lorry from a rental in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, a town to the west of Nice two days earlier. The attacker was said to have hired the lorry from a rental company in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, a town to the west of Nice two days earlier.
They also found guns and a grenade inside the lorry, but later said these were fake. They also found fake guns and a grenade inside the lorry.
However, he was armed with a pistol, and had opened fire on police before being shot dead. It was not initially clear if he was acting alone. However, Bouhlel was armed with a pistol. It was not initially clear if he was acting alone.
There were rumours, which later proved to be false, that hostages had been taken in two nearby hotels.There were rumours, which later proved to be false, that hostages had been taken in two nearby hotels.
Residents were told to stay indoors amid fears of more violence.
Who was the Nice attacker?Who was the Nice attacker?
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
Nice residents and tourists alike were caught up in the attack.Nice residents and tourists alike were caught up in the attack.
It was clear that some of those who died were children, taken to the seafront by their parents to see the Bastille Day firework display. Among the 84 who died was Fatima Charrihi, whose son said she was the first to lose her life. "All I can say is she wore a veil and practised Islam in the proper way. A real Islam, not the terrorists' version," he said.
Of the dozens of people wounded, as many as 54 were children who were being treated at Lenval children's hospital in Nice, reports said. Another victim, according to reports, was the assistant head of the Nice border police, Jean-Marc Leclerc.
Among the 84 who died, according to reports, was the assistant head of the Nice border police, Jean-Marc Leclerc. An American boy, Brodie Copeland, and his father, Sean, were also killed. They had been on holiday in Nice.
In the hours after the attacks, lists were posted on social media of people missing since Thursday night.In the hours after the attacks, lists were posted on social media of people missing since Thursday night.
Among the many names were Estelle, Morgane, Alphonse, Lea (aged seven) and Eva (aged nine). Three people on a school trip from Germany were unaccounted for.
Among the many other names of the missing were Estelle, Morgane, Alphonse, Lea (aged seven) and Eva (aged nine).
Read more on the victims here
How have the authorities reacted?How have the authorities reacted?
It soon became clear that many people had died, although the full scale of the disaster was unclear. The dead and injured were taken to the local Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice.It soon became clear that many people had died, although the full scale of the disaster was unclear. The dead and injured were taken to the local Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice.
The hospital launched its crisis mode for exceptional health situations and put out an emergency number for families: 00 33 (0)4 93 72 22 22.The hospital launched its crisis mode for exceptional health situations and put out an emergency number for families: 00 33 (0)4 93 72 22 22.
In the area around Nice, the anti-terror alert has been raised to its highest level. In the area around Nice, the anti-terror alert was raised to its highest level.
President Francois Hollande was flown back to Paris from a visit to Avignon, joining Prime Minister Manuel Valls in a crisis room. Mr Valls declared three days of mourning starting on Saturday.President Francois Hollande was flown back to Paris from a visit to Avignon, joining Prime Minister Manuel Valls in a crisis room. Mr Valls declared three days of mourning starting on Saturday.
The pair then travelled to Nice, where the interior and health ministers were already involved in crisis meetings with local officials.
Who was behind the attack?Who was behind the attack?
It was not long before President Hollande said it was "an attack whose terrorist nature cannot be denied". President Hollande said it was "an attack whose terrorist nature cannot be denied".
Anti-terrorist prosecutors in Paris have launched an inquiry for murder and attempted murder as part of an organised terrorist strike.Anti-terrorist prosecutors in Paris have launched an inquiry for murder and attempted murder as part of an organised terrorist strike.
Earlier this week, France's DGSI internal security organisation warned of the danger of further attacks from Islamist militants with "booby-trapped vehicles and bombs".Earlier this week, France's DGSI internal security organisation warned of the danger of further attacks from Islamist militants with "booby-trapped vehicles and bombs".
Although so-called Islamic State has not yet said it was behind the murders, it has targeted France on several occasions since January 2015.Although so-called Islamic State has not yet said it was behind the murders, it has targeted France on several occasions since January 2015.
Only hours before the Nice attack, President Hollande had announced that France's state of emergency would be removed later this month. He later announced it was being extended.Only hours before the Nice attack, President Hollande had announced that France's state of emergency would be removed later this month. He later announced it was being extended.
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.ukAre 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
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