16 July,2016 09:19 AM IST | | Agencies
A 31-year-old terrorist ploughs truck through street filled with revellers celebrating Bastille Day – France's National Day - in Nice, killing 84
Nice: In what President Francois Hollande said was an attack of "terrorist character," a terrorist drove a heavy duty white truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day for 2 kilometres, an hour before midnight on Thursday, crushing unsuspecting people before police shot dead the 31-year-old driver.
Killing Machine: The 31-year-old terrorist drove this truck over 84 people. He was later shot dead
The terrorist ploughed his truck through a crowd of thousands enjoying Bastille Day celebration mowing down at least 84 people, injuring some 150. French citizens and tourists had massed along the pavement of the Boulevard des Anglais, the main street in Nice, to enjoy July 14 music event as well as fireworks when the disaster struck.
Parents of victims embrace each other
Besides driving over people, the killer fired at the crowd. Firearms, explosives and grenades were found in the truck, regional President Christian Estrosi said. The identity papers of the French-Tunisian were found in the truck, police said.
A man holds a child after the attack. Pics/AFP
Attacker was a loner
The driver of the truck was Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian whose identity papers were found in the vehicle after the attack. His neighbours described him as a loner with no visible religious affiliation, as forensic experts searched his flat. They portrayed him as a solitary figure who rarely spoke and did not even return greetings when their paths crossed in the four-storey block, located in a working-class neighbourhood in Nice.
'Bodies flew like bowling pins'
A huge white truck flew by at a crazy speed, driving over people, twisting the wheel to cut down the maximum number of people... I saw bodies fly like bowling pins along its path. Heard noises, screaming that I will never forget.
- Damien Allemand
All of a sudden, thousands of people started running in one direction. I had no idea what was going on. I didn't see a truck, I just heard people running, screaming and crying and people carrying their children.
- Paul Delane
We see this truck along the boardwalk, just ploughing through people, bodies getting hit and people running in all directions. There were families just lying down, crying next to these bodies.
- Tony Molina
World reacts
The massacre of innocent people as they were participating in Bastille Day celebrations is an unspeakable crime. India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people and government of France.
- Pranab Mukherjee, President of India
I pray for the victims of the attack and their families. I ask God to convert the hearts of the violent blinded by hate.
- Pope Francis
Terrorism, as we've been saying for so long, is a threat that weighs heavily on France, and will still weigh [heavily]. France will need to learn to live with terrorist attacks. France, once again, has been hit in its soul.
- Manuel Valls, French Prime Minister
