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THE FRENCH PRESIDENT Francois Hollande has declared three days of national mourning following a Bastille Day attack that has left 84 people – including at least ten children – dead and 52 more critically injured.
This video shows the moment at 10.30pm last night that a truck picks up speed travelling along the waterside Promenade des Anglais in Nice, before ploughing into the crowd who had been enjoying the city’s fireworks display.
Police try in vain to flag it down but it appears to accelerate as the celebrations turn to screams and panic.
[NOTE: Content is not graphic but it may upset viewers]
A state of emergency – which began last November following the Paris terrorist attacks which killed 130 people was to have ended on 26 July – will be extended for three months.
President Hollande said that Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be official days of national mourning.
Speaking this afternoon, he told a press conference that around 50 people are critically ill after the attack.
“As I speak, 84 people are dead, and around 50 more are in critical condition between life and death,” he said after visiting a hospital in the city.
The prosecutor for the city of Paris confirmed that 202 people were wounded in the attack; 52 of these people are in critical condition and 25 are on life support.
The driver of the lorry has been identified by local media as a French-Tunisian man called Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel who was a resident of Nice. His apartment in the city was searched by police this morning. A French police source told the Evening Standard that he “was known to police for violence, and using weapons, but had no direct links with terrorism”.
However, French president Francois Hollande said that the attack was of an “undeniable terrorist nature” and the investigation will be handled by anti-terrorism detectives.
AFP quotes French state prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre as saying that the truck drove over one mile through the crowd before coming to a halt.
The driver was shot dead by French police, bringing his murderous rampage to a close.
“France was struck on the day of its national fete, July 14, the symbol of liberty,” a somber President Francois Hollande, said on French national television early this morning, denouncing “this monstrosity” — a truck bearing down on citizens “with the intention of killing, smashing and massacring … an absolute violence.”
He said:
The terrorist character (of the attack) cannot be denied. All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorists.
Police killed the driver of the truck in what witnesses on French TV said was a hail of bullets, but Hollande said it was not immediately clear whether he had accomplices. The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for “murder and attempted murder in an organised group linked to a terrorist enterprise”.
France has lived with soldiers in the streets since the November attacks, and just days ago authorities beamed with pride at the close of the month-long European football championships that ended on 10 July without incident.
Wassim Bouhlel, a Nice native, told The Associated Press that he saw a truck drive into the crowd.
“There was carnage on the road,” he said. “Bodies everywhere.”
He said the driver emerged with a gun and started shooting.
Sylvie Toffin, a press officer with the local prefecture, said the truck ran over people on a “long trip” down the sidewalk that ended near the Palais de la Mediterranee, a building that fronts the beach.
The president of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region, which includes Nice, said the truck was loaded with arms and grenades, although police have not confirmed that. Christian Estrosi also told BFM TV that “the driver fired on the crowd, according to the police who killed him”.
There is still confusion on what exactly happened on a night when thousands were celebrating. Witnesses, mostly unnamed, recounted on French television scenes of horror, with one saying the truck mowed people down like a ball in a bowling alley.
Video footage showed men and women — one or two pushing buggies — racing to get away from the scenes. Photos showed a truck with at least half a dozen bullet holes in its windshield.
The mayor of Nice tweeted just after the horror attack last night:
“We are terrified and we want to offer all of the families concerned our sincere condolences.”
Hollande held a defence council meeting earlier today with key ministers before travelling to Nice.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said “we are in a war with terrorists who want to strike us at any price and in a very violent way.”
Hollande announced a series of measures to bolster security. Besides continuing the state of emergency and the Sentinel operation with 10,000 soldiers on patrol, he said he was calling up “operational reserves,” those who have served in the past and will be brought in to help police, particularly at French borders.
He reiterated that France is also bolstering its presence in Iraq and Syria, where he said earlier military advisers would be on the ground to help Iraqis take back the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said he is reassessing security levels in the British capital in the wake of what happened.
President Barack Obama condemned what he said “appears to be a horrific terrorist attack,” while President Michael D Higgins said: “All the thoughts of those who value freedom and the public world are with the people of France at this time.”
European Council president Donald Tusk said it was a “tragic paradox” that the victims of the attack in Nice were celebrating “liberty, equality and fraternity” — France’s motto — on the country’s national day.
The French ambassador to Ireland, Jean-Pierre Thébault, spoke of his “deep feeling of sadness” at what he said he saw as “an attack on all of us, on our way of living and our free choice of the kind of life we want to live”. He continued:
It is France today, it was the US yesterday, in Orlando, and it’s in so many places at the same time all over the world. Terrorism, Islamic terrorism in particular, is the threat we must now act upon. It is impossible for us to let our population, our freedoms be so constantly threatened.
He called it a “war” and said that each terrorist attack, from those in Iraq and Syria to those ‘closer to home’ such as last night’s killings, should be considered “a wake-up call”.
The Bastille Day is our St Patrick’s. Imagine if a lorry went through a St Patrick’s parade. I deeply pray for that never to happen but when you have something like this, what must be stronger than the feeling of sorrow must be the feeling to act upon this terrorism.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has added his remarks to the Europe-wide outpouring of condolences saying he was “deeply shocked and saddened at this horrific attack”.
He said:
Once again innocent people have been targeted at an occasion of joy and celebration. French people have suffered appallingly and have again been the victim of cynical, and wanton violence. We cannot and will not yield to this malevolence.
Writing online, Nice Matin journalist Damien Allemand who was at the waterside said the fireworks display had finished and the crowd had got up to leave when they heard a noise and cries.
“A fraction of a second later, an enormous white truck came along at a crazy speed, turning the wheel to mow down the maximum number of people,” he said.
I saw bodies flying like bowling pins along its route. Heard noises, cries that I will never forget.
Graphic footage showed a scene of horror up and down the Promenade, with broken bodies splayed out on the tarmac, some of them piled near one another, others bleeding out onto the roadway or twisted into unnatural shapes.
“Help my mother, please!” one person yells out on the video. A pink girl’s bicycle is briefly seen overturned by the side of the road.
This morning, the long stretch of promenade on which the attack happened remained cordoned off by French police. Irish journalist Stephen Milton, speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, said that the atmosphere was “very strange, surreal” this morning with some locals happening upon the scene, apparently only waking up to the news of the killings.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that one Irish person was critically injured in the attack and is being treated in hospital.
The Irish Embassy in Paris has advised that any Irish citizen in Nice needing help should contact them at 0144 176 700. If calling from outside France, add the French code: 00 33 144 176 700.
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Thoughts and prayers with that young girl that was fatally assaulted in Welford last night/ horrific story
@Frank Mc Carthy
the Irish times that it was a woman.
Either way, terrible news.
@Frank Mc Carthy: you where so excited to post you got the age and place wronh
@Niall Lappin: that’s a pretty disgusting comment even for the Journal. RTÉ report an 8 year old girl had died.
@Niall Lappin: even a modecum of respect??? An 8 Yr old girl in Welford has tragically & violently lost her life
@Frank Mc Carthy: WEXFORD…..apologies….R.I.P
@Niall Lappin: wow, that’s fairly sick & vile
@Niall Lappin: hope you’re proud of yourself…knobrot
@Frank Mc Carthy: new Ross,a truly terrible thing to happen
@Niall Lappin: R.I.P. Malikika , her young life extinguished protecting her mother. Rest easy now child
I posted this elsewhere but maybe more relevant here (or not LOL)!
As a good deal of people seemed disappointed by the last government as constructed, could there be a government of national unity?
Or, fall into the same format as last time and ruin the chances of the minority party in subsequent future elections?
Alternatively, a government excluding FFG, comprised of the elected smaller party and individuals? Obviously the latter ‘could’ be unstable due to differences but it could also change the tide of politics in Ireland. Especially, if they managed to look after the homeless and build houses through direct labour and not being ripped off by building companies (who are famous for building bicycle sheds).
@Con Cussed: arithmetic not your strongest subject?
@Lesidees: LOL, there’s 174 seats, FFG combined not expected to have 88 seats. So assuming they get 80+ (or slights over but don’t make the magical 88, then there are at least 88 seats available to the opposition. Do the maths ;0)
@Con Cussed: Doesn’t matter, we’re incapable of building anything functional.
@Con Cussed: the left can not agree on anything and u would need all right leaning independents so never going to happen.
The left are smart u couldn’t go in with SF as they plan this far has Ben to cannibalise the left parties such as labour and doc dems
@Thesaltyurchin: @john purcell: Can’t disagree with anything you’re saying. However, if these guys want to see something different there will have to be give and take, otherwise FFG will be back in power with some minnow. FF & FG have never fixed the big issues of homelessness and housing, so maybe a group thrown together might have a better chance, can they do worse?
@Con Cussed: you laughed at someone to do the math, now I’m asking you to do the logic… as you’ve alluded to within your original post, the formation would likely be unstable, almost definitely too unstable. FFG look likely to get within 2 seats if 88, all they need is 2 indos. An opposition would have to get every single independent on board. Even if possible the structure would likely collapse within weeks if not days of being formed. I’m not against them trying it, but seems destined to end in failure.
@TheGood Feign: The odds are completely stacked against such an outcome as you rightly state. It would take all of the opposition to FFG to conclude an agreement. Some of those elected know they’ll never get in with FFG, so they might be open to it. Then the question would be how long might it last?
@Con Cussed: I suggested this a week ago, we have a National crisis in Homeless & Housing & now Public Services. It won’t be solved by Parties left, right or centre as they all try to fit in their ideologies, what’s needed is consensus on a National scale to solve a National crisis. I felt after the crash last time out, we should have had a National Govt as at that stage we lost our Sovereignty. I believe the onus & pressure on this next Govt is huge, failure to deliver on bread & butter issues from Cost of Living, Insurance, Housing, Health, Homelessness & Immigration, will see the people turn on all political classes as people see no hope. In mentioning Immigration, I am not anti Immigration, but we need to apply the rules, we cannot realistically help all those coming.
@Con Cussed: to get to 88 would mean all the independents, aontú, II, PBP, Labour, SD, Green, and SF agreeing on something….
@Con Cussed: labour will go in with fffg,they say no now but trust me that will change once they get a few ministers
@sean weir: the issue is SF are not a left wing party. Labour and SD are very left of center and their climate and immigration views are completely diff.
While most on here don’t want to see a FF/FG gov the reason is that the left should have formed a block prior to the election so that ppl could vote for them.
SF are looking for the left vote and are trying to destroy labour and the sock dems. They can’t go after the middle class FF/FG vote as it will destroy their base.
@Con Cussed: Dream on most outdoors and opposition wouldn’t agree to split €5
@TheGood Feign: Hell would freeze over before Social Democrats or Labour would ever dream forming a government with Independent Ireland or Aontú & vice versa. FFG have it unfortunately.
@SV3tN8M4: Indeed it would mean the parties putting the people first. It would be stronger than any other type of coalition as it would be bigger and as such could manage the minor entities pulling the plug, who might be the eventual loser in a subsequent election. The issue will always be the breakdown of government ministerial posts and sub-functions of government. It would take balls by those elected to form. All of the points raised need addressing but those who have been in power in the past haven’t addressed them, will they in the future?
The coalition with just need around five independents, Bacik and Holly can do on.
@Dan Murphy: woke utd! To replace woke greens
@Basildon Joe: WOKE WOKE WOKE. Jesus change the boring mantra Adolf. The world has changed, live with it
it was fine to mention immigration topic before elections?
Open the comments at wexford news
@sakk sa: comments are always closed on crime stories
Can we get a demographic break down on those who didn’t vote? Working/not working would be a start
@Ben dover: It will be responsibly obvious from returns based on towns/neighbourhoods. I would also suggest that those in lower social demographic groups voted far less.
@Ben dover: exactly
If there was a party proposing a 50 % reduction in Job Seekers benefit then you can bet the electorate would be huge .
All out to vote against that “” Draconian “” proposal
@james rowan: No representation without taxation!
11 seats to be filled then it’s as you were lads,same rules apply.
The two Healy Raes, Michael Lowry and Verona Murphy. There’s 4 guaranteed to prop up a coalition. We’ll know fairly soon how many FF and FG need.
After the Green wipeout, SD and Labour don’t need to be told twice to steer clear of Government.
@Ronan Mc: anyone but the Healy Raes please.
@Ronan Mc: Think of them what you may, but Kerry is their priority – that’s why they keep being elected. The rest of them just look after their doners and cronies.
@Dermot Blaine:
The Healy Raes are certain to be in.
They are a cheap deal.
SDs or lab will want major changes in policy but all the likes of the Healy Raes etc want are a few new roadworks and people to stop applying planning and building regulations too rigorously.
@P. J.: The Healy Raes won’t be selected, guaranteed.
@P. J.: Healy Rae’s won’t be in ,they can squeeze more out of the government from outside the circle,plus it means they are not held accountable for anything fffg do
@P. J.: and a relaxation of the drink driving laws
Losing Stephen Donnelly is beyond devastating, a smile that could light up Wicklow
Must say the journal have done an excellent job reporting. Found the interactive map better than RTÉ. Fair play
The show is over but the obese lady is not singing.
I hope The Monk finds out who didn’t vote for him
@Fintan Pox:
Brendan and he also called him a bolli,,
The Smoked Salmon so called Socialist Labour party and the Social Democrats debating society will talk and talk to convince us why they can’t enter Government but bottom line they are political cowards who will put their own cushy jobs and income before the interest of the Irish people.
No surprise they are both talkers not doers.
@Tim Brennan: Why would they prop up a neo-liberal government? Labour would be nuts to prop up FFG. Political suicide. Soc Dems are no fools either. They both saw how FFG used the Greens as their patsy. Let them talk to Michael Lowry. He’s more their ilk.
Test
Stop the steal !!!
Not that I know anything about nothing …
I didn’t even read the article. Have seen nothing on French news. Hopefuly it will be over soon !
And then life can go on, whatever way it’s going …
Don’t need a bunker. I have an army bivouac and a mountain sleeping bag etc, 3 camping gas bottles, a burner etc. A couple of weeks of food and a crossbow.
And if that’s not enough : so be it
have your say