Officials in Nice Confirm over 60 Dead in Truck Attack

Paris, 10 Syawal 1437/15 July 2016 (MINA) – Officials in the city of Nice, southern France, confirmed early Friday that over 60 people were killed when a truck rammed a crowd of spectators at the Bastille Day fireworks display in the city.

Local Deputy Eric Ciotti said on French radio that the toll was “above sixty dead” and many wounded, a number of them in very serious condition.

The heavy trailer truck rammed the crowd at high speed on the famous “Promenade des Anglais” on the beach front of the touristy city on the Riviera.

Many people had turned out for the fireworks display as it is July 14, France’s national day and a holiday.

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Witnesses speaking on “France Info” radio said there was also exchanges of gunfire at the time of the attack, but police would not confirm this and it is unknown if the truck driver acted alone or was part of a larger action.

The Interior Ministry said there was no indication of motive for the attack and there was no associated hostage taking operation. Police said that they shot the truck driver dead after he rammed the crowd.

The operation is not confirmed as terrorist but it came the same day as President Francois Hollande said he was not seeking to renew a State of Emergency and would halt emergency powers on July 26.

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Those powers were given to security services after the November attacks here which killed 130 people and wounded over 400. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)