Thursday, July 14, 2016

France: Many killed after lorry driven into crowd during Bastille Day celebrations; UPDATE: driver identified as Tunisian, shouted "Allah Akbar" before being shot by French Police

(Nice) A heavy goods wagon has been deliberately driven into a crowd of people - who had gathered to watch a Bastille Day fireworks display - on the seafront of the southern city of Nice.  The driver struck at around 11pm just after the fireworks display had finished and people had started to make their way home. Picking a crowded intersection as his start point, he drove approximately 1.3 kilometres through the crowded streets  killing over 84 people and injuring hundreds more. The driver was only stopped when police fired a hail of bullets into the cab killing him. Documents found within the cab point at a 21 year old Tunisian.

The attack came only hours after the French President Francois Hollande stated that the state of emergency imposed after last year's Islamic terrorists attacks in Paris - 13/11/15 - would not be extended beyond 26 July 16.


The scene before the attack






The truck used in the attack after it had been stopped by Police gunfire.










Fire reported at Eiffel tower: