BREAKING: Truck plows through crowd killing many in Nice, France, during Bastille Day [UPDATED]
Photo Source: Nice-Matin on Twitter
Some tragic reports are ringing in from numerous sources that several tens of people are dead after a truck plowed through a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day, in the affluent city of Nice, France.
As of this post, Reuters and CNN reports at least 30 people were killed with over 100 injured when the hundreds gathered to watch a fireworks display. Bastille Day is a national holiday for France, marking a significant change for the country during the French Revolution in the late 18th century. So think of it as France’s version of what our Independence Day is in America.
During the attack, French officials report that the driver was shot dead on Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais, but has not yet been identified.
As of this post, no other attacks have been reported.
Le camion qui a foncé sur la foule pic.twitter.com/h4QuBabJMx
— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) July 14, 2016
Spectators quickly went to Twitter to share video recordings of the event, which is what caught the attention of the media.
The specifics of the event are still unfolding as more information gets released and discovered. Though no thorough confirmations were made to call this a terrorist attack, yet.
One witness account, who identified as an American pilot, told CNN that a truck could be seen ramming the crowd, while the throttle of the truck could be heard rising, implying the driver accelerated as he hit the crowd. Only one driver was spotted by the witness.
Right now, French officials are still responding to the incident and gathering all information, so stay tuned to this post as I update it.
TL:DR – UPDATED as of 7:10pm (19:10) EST
- Truck driver plows through crowd watching fireworks during Bastille Day celebrations in Nice, France
- Twitter feeds flood with video and pictures of spectators and witness accounts
- Witness Tony Molina reports 70-100 vehicles and multiple air-evac helicopters
- Witness Maryam Violet says hundreds of bodies seen scattered across Nice’s Promenade des Anglais
- French President Francois Hollande currently being briefed with Interior Ministry
- Facebook activates Safety Check feature for people in the area
- Over 30 deaths reported, more than 100 injured
- Currently developing…
- UPDATE 8:03pm (20:03) EST: At least 73 deaths accounted for (Telegraph.co.uk)
- Police have officially declared it a “terrorist attack”
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Reuters, CNN, Twitter of Nice-Matin, Telegraph