sOver 84 people, including several children, have been killed and as many as 100 others wounded as a man,suspected to be an ISIS terrorist, rammed a truck into a crowd of people celebrating France national holiday at a waterfront Boulevard in the southern city of Nice in the French Riviera. The assailant plowed deep through the crowd for up to two kilometers, spraying them with bullet and mowing people down. He was eventually shot and killed by the police.
An identity card was found in the truck, which is that of a French-Tunisian man leaving in Nice.
French President, Francois Hollande in reaction extended emergency rule in force in the country by 3 months, saying “terror again has struck France”. France has been a victim of terror attacks since the last 18 months and Hollande said that “we cannot deny that this is a terror attack”.
According to the Mayor of Nice, firearms, explosives and grenades were found in the truck.
French Interior Ministry confirm that 84 people were killed, while over 100 were injured.
![The French President said he will extend the country's state of emergency [Olivier Anrigo/EPA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2016/7/15/c0734d9cd96f442a92f1810c0d3644ff_18.jpg "Hollande and world leaders condemn Nice attack")
World leaders have expressed solidarity with France, condemning the attack. US President Barack Obama condemned it as “a horrific terrorist attack”.
“I have directed my team to be in touch with French officials, and we have offered any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice,” he said. “We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack,” Obama said in a statement.
Speaking at the Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said:”All of us who have come together at the ASEM summit are united in our feeling of disbelief at the attack of mass murder in Nice. Germany stands in the fight against terrorism at France’s side, united with many, many others. I am convinced that, despite all the difficulties, we shall win this fight.”
And the United Nations Security Council said in a statement: “The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack.”
Meanwhile Hollande has vowed to intensify action in Iraq and Syria following the attack.
“France has been hit on the day of celebration. This is a form of sabotage. Human rights are not respected by these fanatics,” he said. “We will further strengthen our actions in Iraq and in Syria. We will continue striking those who attack us on our own soil.”
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