Nice, France, truck attack kills 77, Hollande says
At least 77 people were killed Thursday night when a large truck plowed
through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, President Francois
Hollande said.
through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, President Francois
Hollande said.
The driver first
shot a gun into the crowd before driving 2 kilometers along the Boulevard des
Anglais, the main street in Nice, mowing down people who'd gathered to watch
fireworks, regional President Christian Estrosi told CNN affiliate BFM-TV.
shot a gun into the crowd before driving 2 kilometers along the Boulevard des
Anglais, the main street in Nice, mowing down people who'd gathered to watch
fireworks, regional President Christian Estrosi told CNN affiliate BFM-TV.
Police shot and
killed the driver, said Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesman for the French
Interior Ministry. Police found firearms, explosives and grenades in the truck,
Estrosi said.
killed the driver, said Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesman for the French
Interior Ministry. Police found firearms, explosives and grenades in the truck,
Estrosi said.
So far, no group
has claimed responsibility. Anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the
investigation, according to BFMTV, citing the prosecutor's office.
has claimed responsibility. Anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the
investigation, according to BFMTV, citing the prosecutor's office.
Here are the latest
developments in the tragedy:
developments in the tragedy:
• Hollande
addressed the nation, saying all measures are being employed to help the
victims. Security measures will be increased and an existing state of
emergency, which was scheduled to end later this month, will be extended three
months. He said France must exhibit vigilance in the face of terrorist threats.
addressed the nation, saying all measures are being employed to help the
victims. Security measures will be increased and an existing state of
emergency, which was scheduled to end later this month, will be extended three
months. He said France must exhibit vigilance in the face of terrorist threats.
• The streets were
dense with people when the attack occured. About 100 people were injured,
officials said. Witness Tony Molina said he saw bodies of the dead lying in the
street, covered in blue tarps and marked so emergency vehicles didn't run over
them.
dense with people when the attack occured. About 100 people were injured,
officials said. Witness Tony Molina said he saw bodies of the dead lying in the
street, covered in blue tarps and marked so emergency vehicles didn't run over
them.
• Preliminary
information from French officials is that there was one individual in the
truck, according to a U.S. law enforcement official briefed on the attack.
information from French officials is that there was one individual in the
truck, according to a U.S. law enforcement official briefed on the attack.
• American
Dominique Molina, who was watching from a balcony, said the fireworks had just
ended and a crowd on the beach was disbanding. "People were flooding the
streets, just walking away from the show, and I heard a lot of loud noises and
people were screaming and so to the west, a big moving truck was driving on the
promenade, just barreling over people and hitting -- running people over."
She estimated the truck moved at 20-25 mph. Molina said her teenage son
witnessed the carnage. "It's something you're not supposed to see,"
she said. "I grabbed my son, I felt like shielding him, protecting him
from seeing that. It happened so fast, it was like in slow-motion."
Dominique Molina, who was watching from a balcony, said the fireworks had just
ended and a crowd on the beach was disbanding. "People were flooding the
streets, just walking away from the show, and I heard a lot of loud noises and
people were screaming and so to the west, a big moving truck was driving on the
promenade, just barreling over people and hitting -- running people over."
She estimated the truck moved at 20-25 mph. Molina said her teenage son
witnessed the carnage. "It's something you're not supposed to see,"
she said. "I grabbed my son, I felt like shielding him, protecting him
from seeing that. It happened so fast, it was like in slow-motion."
• Paul Delane, an
American, described the chaos. "All of a sudden, just people, thousands of
people, started running in one direction. Well, my partner took my hand
immediately and we started running with everybody and honestly in my head I had
no idea what was going on and the music was so loud and I didn't really see a
truck, but just people running and screaming and crying and people carrying
their children, and it was just very frightening."
American, described the chaos. "All of a sudden, just people, thousands of
people, started running in one direction. Well, my partner took my hand
immediately and we started running with everybody and honestly in my head I had
no idea what was going on and the music was so loud and I didn't really see a
truck, but just people running and screaming and crying and people carrying
their children, and it was just very frightening."
No comments:
Post a Comment