A pall hangs over the city of Nice after a terrorist drove a truck for nearly a mile into and through a large crowd of people Thursday night as they celebrated the country’s Bastille Day along the Riviera. The driver opened fire at those gathered along the sidewalks, many in bathing suits in the area next to the waterfront.
French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency in response to the attack. Bastille Day is analagous to America’s Fourth of July holiday. The investigation into the attack has been turned over to the French Bureau of Counter Terror Intelligence. In addition, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office has opened a terrorism investigation into the attack.
The White House issued a statement condemning “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack.”
.@POTUS on the attack in Nice, France: pic.twitter.com/CrbChxZs04
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 14, 2016
Terribly graphic videos flooded social media websites on the internet; all were deemed too graphic to post within the text of this article.
At least 80 people are known to be dead and more than 50 were injured in the attack, Le Figaro reported late Thursday night. At least 40 were critically injured by the unidentified terrorist as he drove the 2.5-ton (5,000 lb) white truck along the famed Promenade des Anglais seafront, officials said. It is not yet known whether Israelis were among them.
Shots were reportedly fired from the truck as it drove straight into the crowd. The driver was shot dead by police, according to a local official. Grenades and other arms were later found inside the truck.
A second suspect may still be at large, according to French television news.
Twitter accounts known to be associated with the Da’esh (ISIS) terrorist organization were posting tweets celebrating the attack, but none claimed responsibility for the attack.