A lorry has struck a crowd after Bastille Day celebrations in the southern French city of Nice, killing at least 80 people, including children, and injuring dozens, officials say, according to BBC.
It happened on the famous Promenade des Anglais after a firework display. The driver was shot dead and guns and grenades were found inside the lorry, BBC reported.
About 50 people were injured, 18 of them critically, in the incident on Thursday, which was Bastille Day – France`s national day.
Prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said the lorry drove 2km (1.2 miles) through a large crowd, BBC reported citing the AFP news agency.
President Francois Hollande said the attack was of a ”terrorist nature”.
He extended a state of emergency initially introduced across France after the November Paris attacks, which had been due to end July 26, by three months.
”France is badly hit,” Hollande said, adding that ”we need to do everything we can to fight against” such attacks.
”All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism,” he said, adding that ”several children” were among those killed.
Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet denied earlier reports of hostage situations and said the driver of the lorry had been ”neutralised”.
He added that officials were investigating whether the driver acted alone.
No group has so far claimed responsibility, however prosecutors said the inquiry would be handled by anti-terror investigators.
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