bdmetronews desk ॥ At least 80 people — including several children — have died in the French city of Nice after a terrorist plowed a truck, which was “loaded with” grenades and other arms, into a large crowd during Bastille Day celebrations Thursday night, according to officials and the French president.
The incident left an “apocalyptic” scene, according to eyewitnesses, on the famed Promenade des Anglais, put the city on lockdown and drew swift condemnation from world leaders.
“On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent citizens,” President Obama said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded.”
Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. Embassy in Paris was working to account for the welfare of U.S. citizens in Nice. The American consulate in Marseille said it was trying to “determine if any U.S. citizens were injured in the event.”
The exact nature of the attack was unclear, but the Paris anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office was put in charge of the investigation.
French President Francois Hollande extended the country’s state of emergency for three months and were mobilizing reservists. He said it was unclear if the attacker had any accomplices.
Hollande also discussed the threat of “Islamist terrorism.” “The terrorist nature of this attack cannot be denied,” he said.
