
Police today arrested the wife of the ISIS fanatic who killed 84 people including at least ten children in Nice using a lorry and a handgun.

It has been revealed that killer Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, a French Tunisian and married father of three, was depressed about the break up of his marriage before he mounted pavements at high speed and ploughed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice last night.

He had separated from wife Hajer some two years ago following a series of violent arguments, and he was said to have been upset in recent months as their divorce had been finalised.

Today Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said police have arrested his wife, as detectives try to establish his motives and if he had accomplices.

Dramatic footage released today shows the moment he was shot dead by five police officers in the 19-tonne lorry he used as a murder weapon on his mile-long killing spree.

One eyewitness filmed armed officers approaching the cab of the lorry and firing repeatedly through its windscreen and doors before it appears Bouhlel can be heard screaming after being hit by a police bullet and he died slumped in the passenger seat.

Witness Nadar El Shafei told the BBC: 'He died inside the vehicle - I saw his head [hanging] out of the window, they kept shooting him from all sides just to be sure. Then they asked us to run away in case there were others inside the car or a bomb.'

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

Monster: Truck terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel who murdered 84 on Bastille Day in Nice, was described by a cousin as a 's***' and a 'nasty piece of work' who never observed the rules of Islam

Shootout: Police approach the cab where the gunman, named locally as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, went on his rampage. It is not clear if this was taken as he was killed after this picture was taken with one witness saying he may have been hanging out of a window

Intense fighting: Police fired dozens of rounds into the cab of the lorry after its mile-long rampage with witnesses saying the suspect was firing out of the cab and died

Last stand: One eyewitness filmed armed officers approaching the cab of the lorry and firing through its windscreen and doors before it appears Bouhlet can be heard screaming after being hit by a police bullet

Terror attack: At least 84 people were killed and dozens more critically injured last night when a terrorist killer, named locally as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, drove this truck, riddled with bullets, through crowds celebrating Bastille day in Nice

End: The police said today that French Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel died in the passenger seat of this 19-tonne truck after a shoot-out

Murder weapon: The key suspect is said to have been parked up for nine hours before carrying out the attack and may have been stopped by police but claimed he was delivering ice cream. In fact the back of his lorry contained many weapons and grenades

Horrifying: Police and forensics teams inspect bodies in the French sunshine where at least ten died and 50 injured - many of them in buggies left abandoned today

Disaster zone: Bodies lie along the promenade showing the devastating route the lorry took as it went through huge crowds

Terror investigation: The French authorities say it is their third terrorist atrocity in 18 months and admit it could take some time to identify all the dead

Atrocity: At least a dozen bodies of victims covered by sheets remain at the scene of the terror attack today as the authorities try to identify them

United in grief: Parents of victims embrace each other near the scene of a truck attack in Nice where more than 80 were killed

Tears for the lost: Two young women, obviously grief-stricken, lay flowers and messages for the many people killed and injured in Nice last night

Broken: President Hollande has called for France to unite and said the world was again watching their country after another terror attack

Path of destruction: After spending several hours parked up the killer went on a half hour rampage along the world famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice before he was shot dead by a hero policewoman

NICE TERRORIST ATTACK: THE STORY SO FAR Here is what we know so far about the lorry attack in Nice. A terrorist drove a truck through crowds celebrating Bastille Day on Thursday night in the seaside city of Nice on the French Riviera, killing at least 84 people, including several children. Eyewitnesses said the driver swerved from side to side to kill as many people as possible as he drove for hundreds of metres along the Promenade des Anglais on the seafront. Christian Estrosi, the regional president in Nice, said at least 10 children were among the dead, and the death toll is expected to rise. A "small number" of Britons are injured. French authorities confirmed 202 people were wounded, 25 of which are on life support, while 52 are in a critical condition. The attacker is reported to be 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a man of French-Tunisian origin who was not known to intelligence services. One witness said the driver produced a gun before being shot by police. No hostages were taken and the lorry driver was "neutralised", with authorities investigating if he was acting alone. Mr Estrosi said guns and grenades were found in the lorry. As the sun rose on Friday morning, the lorry could still be seen where it finally came to a halt, its windscreen peppered with bullet holes. France has declared three days of national mourning following the atrocity. French president Francois Hollande said the country's state of emergency would be extended for another three months. A military operation is in place allowing the mobilisation of 10,000 troops. Mr Hollande said the country's borders were being tightened, as he vowed that France would show "real force and military action in Syria and Iraq". London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced he will be "reviewing our own safety measures" following the attack. A Rihanna concert scheduled for Friday night at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice has been cancelled, as have the city's jazz festival, which was due to run from Saturday to Wednesday, and some of the Bastille celebrations over the weekend. Advertisement

The shootout came after his 30 minute rampage where he aimed at crowds watching fireworks and sent 'bodies flying like bowling pins' and left others 'jammed' under the lorry's wheels at around 10.30pm local time last night.

This evening the death toll stands at 84 with another 202 injured. Of those 52 are in hospital in a critical condition and 25 of them are on life support machines.

Heartbroken men and women refused to leave the bodies of their loved ones and the dead remain strewn across the famous Promenade des Anglais today. Hundreds have now laid flowers in their memory as President Hollande said 'many foreigners have died' with at least 50 more people 'between life and death'.

French citizens, two Americans, one Armenian and one Ukrainian are among the dead with several Britons among the injured while dozens of panicked people have posted images of loved-ones still missing using the hashtags #Nice06 and #recherchenice.

At least ten of the victims were children, with young girls and boys lying dead covered in a blankets with their dolls and buggies still next to them. Footage taken at the time of the attack shows bodies piled up in the roads and people running from their lives as they tried to avoid the zig-zagging lorry while paramedics treated the injured and dying in the street.

The truck driver, who was known to police, was said to have shouted 'Allahu Akbar' – God is great in Arabic – before being killed in a clear suicide mission. Pro-ISIS groups have been celebrating the attack, orchestrated to coincide with France's most important national holiday.

A huge cache of guns, grenades and 'larger weapons' and the terrorist's identity papers were later found inside the lorry, which mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards hundreds of people watching a fireworks display.

ISIS supporters have been celebrating the attack, orchestrated to coincide with France's most important national holiday. The gunman was known to police for crimes of theft and violence, but not intelligence services, a police source said. A suspected accomplice is on the run.

France today declared three days of national mourning after the truck attack - its third major terror attack in 18 months - and President Francois Hollande said: 'France is in tears, it is hurting but it is strong and she will be stronger - always stronger than the fanatics who wish to hurt us.'

Truck terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was an 'unlikely jihadist' who flouted every rule of Islam, his cousin told MailOnline today.

The 31-year-old - who wreaked terror on the Nice seafront as he turned an evening celebrating Bastille Day into a night of terror in which he murdered 84 innocent people - drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs.

He never prayed or attended a mosque, and hit his wife - with whom he had three children - and was in the process of getting a divorce.

Bouhlel, who had been known to the French police since January, had been on the radar for six months for petty criminality.

It is understood he lost his job as a delivery driver when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into four cars.

Yesterday, he was stopped by police just hours before he crushed scored of people underneath the wheels of his 25 tonne truck and fired shots indiscriminately at police and innocent bystanders.

He told officers that he was delivering ice-cream to the area and was allowed to park on the waterfront for several hours.

Horrifying footage of the moment the truck turned into a deadly juggernaut were uploaded online within minutes, showing a trail of dead bodies left in its path.

Walid Hamou, a cousin of Bouhlel's wife Hajer, told MailOnline: 'Bouhlel was not religious. He did not go to the mosque, he did not pray, he did not observe Ramadan.

'He drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs. This is all forbidden under Islam. He was not a Muslim, he was a s***. He beat his wife, my cousin, he was a nasty piece of work.'

Detectives had raided the 12th floor apartment she had shared with her estranged husband in the early hours of the morning and another rented property nearby.

More disturbing facts emerged about Bouhlel's frame of mind in the hours leading to his murderous rampage on the Promenade des Anglais.

Wissam, a Tunisian neighbour from the same village as the driver claimed: 'On the Thursday night he was drinking with a colleague and they argued. His pal said you're worth nothing and he replied: 'One day, you'll hear about me.'

Speaking to L'Express he said: Look this is someone who drinks, smokes cannabis.'

Bouhlel's wife was taken into protective custody by police this morning was held for questioning on Friday, a police source said, adding investigators are seeking to establish his motives and are also looking for possible accomplices.

The Nice terrorist rented the lorry two days earlier and had been parked on the street for nearly nine hours and even told police he was delivering ice cream before carrying out his deadly attack, according to reports.

The killer, who was previously known to police for violence and theft, is reported to have had assault rifles, a pistol and even a grenade with him in the lorry - but they went undiscovered.

Despite allegedly questioning the driver, police officers in the southern French city did nothing to move him on as he waited to begin the attack.

He was shot dead by a police officer, believed to have been female, after he opened fire into a crowd of fleeing people. A motorcyclist tried to stop the rampage by drawing level with the truck and attempting to open the door of its cab before he fell and ended up under its wheels.

Today the delivery truck, riddled with bullets, remains in the centre of Nice with bodies strewn nearby.

TRUCK TERRORIST LAHOUAIEJ BOUHLEL KNOWN TO POLICE FOR ABUSE, THEFT AND 'USE OF WEAPONS' Killer Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was known to police for violent abuse, theft and 'use of weapons' before he embarked on a rampage that would leave 84 dead. He had been arrested following a brawl in a pub on January 27 and his last appearance in a criminal court was as recent as March, when he was found guilty of violent contact. Delivery driver Bouhlel had also recently been put under probation after he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into four vehicles on a highway, it is claimed in Spanish newspaper El Mundo. However, the man had never been associated with any acts of terrorism before the Bastille Day slaughter, and he was not under surveillance. Several of his relatives and close friends have been taken into police custody for questioning and simultaneous raids are continuing in the Abattoirs area of Nice. Neighbours of Bouhlel described him as a 'lonely' and 'silent' man, with one saying he never returned their greetings. Meanwhile, investigators are using the city's 1,200 surveillance cameras to track the route of the lorry before the attack. It is understood that Bouhlel had rented the truck on Wednesday from a specialist garage at Saint Laurent du Var by Nice Airport. Police have discovered CCTV footage of the moment he boarded the lorry in the hills around Nice, according to reports. It has also been claimed he was parked on the promenade for nearly nine hours before the attack, but was allowed to stay because he told police he was delivering ice cream. Documents found in the cab included an ID, a mobile phone and a credit card. Security sources said a huge cache of guns, grenades and 'larger weapons' were later found inside the lorry. Advertisement

Bereft: A shocked woman in yellow sits on the phone next to the body of a loved-one, surrounded by debris, as ISIS terrorists again struck in France, this time on Bastille Day, killing at least 84

Alone: A man sits in silence and clasps his hands while sitting at the head of a body killed in France's third major terrorist attack in 18 months

Shootout: After zig-zagging through crowds the terrorist fired on crowds before a police marksman shot him dead

Aftermath: This photograph was taken in the moments after the lorry crashed through crowds of people in the devastating terror attack

Panic: People were seen running for their lives after a suspected terrorist drove through crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day then got out and opened fire

Fight for life: An injured young woman wounded in the terror attack is treated in the street by a paramedic as dozens more fight for their lives today

Police halted the truck after firing more than 40 rounds into the cab as it ploughed through more than 100 people in Nice last night

Details of those killed are slowly emerging in the aftermath of the attack.

Twenty-eight-year-old Hamza Charrihi held up an identity card belonging to her mother who was killed in the attack.

She told L'Express: ' She wore the veil of Islam and practiced a true and balanced religion…a real Islam. Not the one of the terrorists.'

Recovering from shock in a University building in the centre of Nice, turned into a shelter for relatives, she spoke briefly to pay testament to the memory of her mother.

Damien Allemand, a journalist for French regional newspaper Nice Matin saw the horror unfold.

He said the attack began just as the fireworks display ended as thousands of people were milling around the waterside.

He said: 'He rode up onto the Prom and piled into the crowd. 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.'

Witnesses of the attack in Nice described seeing people run through the streets as they heard gunshots.

Wassim Bouhel told the French TV channel iTele that the lorry zigzagged across the road.

He said: 'We almost died. It was like hallucinating ... (the lorry) zigzagged - you had no idea where it was going. My wife was a metre away.

'The lorry ripped through everything, poles, trees. We have never seen anything like it. Some people were hanging on the door and tried to stop it.'

Neighbours of the man suspected to have killed scores of people in a truck attack on the Nice seafront described him Friday as a loner with no visible religious affiliation, as forensic experts searched his flat.

AFP reporters interviewed about a dozen neighbours of the man, named by police as 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, whose identity papers were found in the truck.

They portrayed him as a solitary figure who rarely spoke and did not even return greetings when their paths crossed in the four-storey block, located in a working-class neighbourhood of Nice.

Sebastien, a neighbour who spoke on condition that his full name was not used, said Lahouaiej-Bouhlel did not seem overtly religious, often dressed in shorts and sometimes wore work boots.

He had a van parked nearby and owned a bike, which he brought up into his first-floor apartment.

Of those who were interviewed, only one, a neighbour on the ground floor, said she had had any concerns about him - he was 'a good-looking man who kept giving my two daughters the eye.'

Respect: Huge crowds have gathered in Promenades des Anglais with the lorry in the background this afternoon

United: A young boy leaves a bouquet of white flowers in Promenades des Anglais today surrounded by people of all races and religions

A woman and two children pay flowers tribute outside the French embassy in Moscow, Russia, after a Russian national died in Nice

Police investigators and forensic experts entered his apartment around 9.30am with an armed police intervention unit in support, and brought out bags of material later.

At least 84 people were killed when the white 19-tonne truck slammed into the crowd on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice's glitzy beachfront, as they gathered to watch a firework display on France's national day.

Russian student Victoria Savchenko, 21, was killed instantly when she was hit by the truck as she walked with her friend Polina Serebryannikova, 22, in Nice last night.

Polina today described how she saw the truck career through the crowd just moments before it hit Victoria, a student at the Russian government's elite Financial University in Moscow.

Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie, who were on vacation in France at the time of the attack, have been confirmed dead by friends and family online.

Haley Copeland wrote on Facebook: 'By now many of you have heard about the 80 people that have died in Nice, France today from a terrorist attack driving through a parade.

'2 of those 80 people were American and those 2 people happen to be uncle Sean and 11 year old cousin Brodie.

'They were there on vacation with my two other cousins and aunt celebrating a birthday.'

Home: Police searched the apartment of Nice terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel today as well as another van left near the property

Turned over: Officers pulled out drawers, went through cupboards and tested surfaces in the property in the north of Nice today

Probe: French police search a lorry and the apartment of Nice terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel today as they work out why he did it

Forensics: Officers go over another rental lorry close to the home of suspect Bouhlel - but the company that loaned him a lorry have refused to comment today

People posted images of friends, brothers and sisters, mothers and numerous young people who they have been unable to reach since at least 84 people were killed in the southern French city.

Many others of the heartbreaking messages posted on Twitter include photos of mothers and daughters, young people, and show screenshots of frantic messages sent to the missing, with no reply.

Around 100 people were forced to dive into the sea as panic ensued and holiday crowds desperately ran for their lives. The gunman then jumped out of the truck and opened fire, which is when he was shot dead by police.

French President Francois Hollande said several children were among the dead and added that it was 'undeniable' the massacre was a terrorist attack.

He said the truck attack was done 'to satisfy the cruelty of an individual, and maybe a group.' Speaking after visiting the hospital where victims were treated, he also said that France was 'facing a struggle which will be long.'

Anti-terror police swooped in as the city was put on lockdown and residents were warned to stay indoors for their safety. Gunshots rang out in the streets, with the gunman targeting hotels and cafes in the port city in the south of France.

One witness called Antoine said: 'We were at the Neptune beach and a firework display had just finished. That is when we saw a white lorry. It was going quickly at 60-70 kilometres an hour.'

Eyewitness Wassim Bouhlel said that he saw a truck drive into the crowd and then witnessed the man emerge with a gun and start shooting.

'There was carnage on the road,' Bouhlel said. 'Bodies everywhere.'

Bodies could be seen lying on the floor by the beach, as the police and other emergency services tried to deal with a mass panic.

Interpol is sending a response team to the French city of Nice to help identify victims and aid in the investigation into the truck attack that left at least 84 people dead.

According to the international police organization, the team will include anti-terrorism specialists.

Victoria Savchenko (pictured left), 21, was killed instantly when she was walking down the street and hit. Aurelie Remy, centre, A young boy who had been out with his aunt, are missing

Also dead are Brodie Copeland, 11, from Texas (pictured left on vacation in the French Riviera and right) who died along with his father, Sean

Father, Sean, 51, (pictured far left with wife Kimberly far right, and Brodie, centre) was also killed

Emilie Chevrier (pictured, left) was among the missing as well as Hugo (right), 16, whose brother is desperately trying to find hm

Alexandre Torre, Christelle Nunez and their daughter Lous are missing according to social media

Witness Lucy Nesbitt-Comaskey told Sky News that the noise of gunfire 'sounded like Beirut'.

She said: 'I said to my friend 'This doesn't sound like fireworks, it sounds like Beirut when it's under fire'.

'All of a sudden people were screaming in the streets and running into all the restaurants.

'All the restaurants were open and people were coming.

'We were just sitting there and everyone came into our restaurant and the owners were saying 'Please don't go anywhere, come in, come in'.

Ms Nesbitt-Comaskey said she and her friend were planning to go to the fireworks but stopped to find a toilet and were only a block away when the attack happened.

Speaking about what she witnessed, she said: 'It was shocking, it was devastating and I cannot believe that I have come over here for a few days and I have got mixed up in something so tragic.

'It was just awful.'

Briton Will Shore was in a nearby bar when he heard gunfire and said his initial reaction was to run towards the city centre to see what was happening.

He told the BBC: 'I kind of ran towards the centre of Nice where there was a rather large jazz festival, and something was going on. I immediately found that military and the local police were just ushering absolutely everybody out of the area.

'It was quite chaotic really. There was a lot of people screaming, running around and people were kind of being pushed over, I think, from people just being so frightened about what was going on, especially after hearing the gunshots.

'I had to help a couple of people up who were in distress on the floor because everyone was in such a panic.'

He added: 'You could genuinely see the fear and panic in people's faces when they were running away. It was a mass amount of people running away'.

Secure zone: The world's media has descended on Nice - with police erecting a large screen as they continue to look at the lorry (in the top right of the picture)

Chaos: This is the scene in Nice today where the lorry raced the length of the famed Promenade des Anglais, leaving 84 dead in his wake

Crime scene: The lorry used as a murder weapon remains on the French Riviera city's famed waterfront promenade with police gathering evidence and marking put bullet casings with yellow numbered signs

Aftermath: The scene on the attack on the Promenade de Anglais where the 31-year-old murderer hit as many people as he could before being killed in a shootout with police

Horror: Bodies are still strewn along the mile-long route as police admitted today that the man who killed them was known to them

A truck ploughed through a large group of people in Nice during a suspected terrorist attack which claimed 'dozens of lives'

Horrific images depicting men and women lying on the side of a road close to the Promenade des Anglais

A child's doll lies on the street beside the body of a young girl who was killed in last night's attack in Nice in the south of France

Monstrous act: A man lies next to a body, with his head in his hands, as he tries to come to terms with the horror of what happened

Emergency: Sécurité Civile helicopters took off from the Promenade des Anglais surrounded by body bags

Armed police took up positions during the attack fearing there were additional terrorists in the area as the perpetrator was shot dead

Death toll: At least ten people lie dead on a short stretch of road where the lorry flew through crowds in Nice, killing families on a national holiday

Emergency services work to save the dead and injured on pavements along the mile-long stretch of road in Nice

Overwhelmed: Paramedics help a stricken victim on the left side of the picture, on the right hand side a man crouches, clearly in tears over the body of a victim

Makeshift: As the death toll rose bodies were left were they were hit or shot and were covered in blankets and often weighed down with whatever was available including rocks from the beach

Stunned survivors stood just feet away from from the bodies of five people who were run over next to HiBeach in Nice, pictured

Path of destruction: The driver spent around 30 minutes on the road before he was stopped by a police marksman in a shoot-out

French police riddled the truck with gunfire in an effort to kill the crazed driver of the truck which ran down hundreds of people

Carnage: The killed zig-zagged across the road trying to hit as many people as possible, including several children killed as they watched the fireworks

Investigation: Police in France are now treating this as a terrorist attack and have admitted the killer was known to them and is believed to be from Nice via Tunisia

Horror: Witnesses described seeing bodies of the dead being sent flying in all directions or being jammed under the wheels of the lorry

Terrible: One of the dozens of people killed by the killer lorry driver lies covered on the pavement with her handbag still next to her

Panic: Emergency services were working through the night to treat people in the street where they lay or in local hospitals. Doctors are begging for people to donate blood to help the injured

Icon: The sweeping promenade of Nice with its famous twinkling street lights. Today this famous scene is at the centre of one of France's worst terror attacks

In shock: Three survivors of the terror attack cling to one another as they try to come to terms with what happened and pass the body of someone whose life was taken

Heartbroken: Two men stand next to bodies, with one on a mobile phone, as many families lost loved-ones in the terror attack last night

Grief: A woman sobs into her hands while another man holds on to the body of someone killed by the ISIS terrorist

Awful: Friends of a man lying badly injured on the pavement try to treat him as he lies stricken on the floor with no shoes

Tragedy: A family of holidaymakers look at a woman in yellow as she sits next to the body of a loved-one killed in the terror attack

Support: People refuse to leave the side of the dead and injured while others walk dazed along the promenade after surviving the attrocity

Rush: Victims have been rushed to hospital for life-saving treatment but dozens remain critically ill and more are expected to succumb to their injuries

Emergency: Paramedics and doctors try to save a life of an injured victim - surrounded by bodies of those killed yesterday

On guard: France remains in a state of national emergency after a string of awful terror attacks on French soil in the past year

At least 70 people were killed in the southern French town of Nice when a truck ran into a crowd and targeted people on the pavement

At least 70 people have been killed during a horrific Bastille Day attack in Nice, southern France

The driver mounted the pavement at 40mph and steered directly at large groups of people watching the fireworks

The lorry drove for more than a mile targeting people who were attending the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice

Bereft: A man is bent double in grief by the body of a victim lying covered on Nice's world famous promenade

ISIS CELEBRATE YET ANOTHER DEADLY ATTACK ON FRANCE Vile: Pro-ISIS groups have begun celebrating the Nice attack Sick: One of the images superimposed the head of French president François Hollande Pro-ISIS groups have begun celebrating the Nice massacre which has left at least 77 people dead and more than 50 injured - but the terror group is yet to officially claim responsibility. Scores of Bastille Day revellers were mown down by a truck after gathering to watch a fireworks display in the French city. One French media outlet, weekly news magazine Paris Match, is reporting that ISIS has claimed responsibility but as yet there has been no official confirmation. The group have mobilised to threaten France and encouraged the use of the #Nice_Attack hashtag. Advertisement

Kevin Harris watched the attack unfold from his balcony.

He told the BBC: 'I saw what appeared to be bodies in the lying in the road.

'I spoke to my neighbour, who said the lorry had ploughed through the people. It's a terrible scene.'

Celia Delcourt, 20, from Nice, was enjoying the Bastille Day celebrations with friends when the attack happened.

'When the fireworks ended, we went on to the Promenade des Anglais and we started walking and we heard gunshots and we started running from on the other side,' she told ITV's Good Morning Britain programme.

'It was dark. We didn't know what was happening. We thought it was fireworks from another place. We just started running because everybody was running, without knowing what was happening.

'We never thought it will happen in our city, it's crazy. It feels like it's a part of our day since it happened in Paris but we never thought it would happen here.'

Ms Delcourt added: 'Everybody is shocked we have never been in a situation like this so it is unbelievable. It's shocking.'

British holidaymaker Esther Serwah, 59, was staying in a hotel a short walk from the scene.

She said she had been on her way to the Promenade des Anglais for dinner with her daughters when people started screaming at her.

Mrs Serwah, from Surrey, said: 'I was just walking to the Promenade and then I saw everybody running and I just didn't know what was going on.

'People were screaming at me in French but I didn't understand.

'Some people were lying on the streets dead and people were running over the bodies.

'Everybody was saying it's a terrorist attack. It's just horrible, horrible, horrible.

'I'm in shock. I'm still shaking.'

British eyewitness Kevin Harris was on the third-floor terrace of his hotel, where people had gathered to watch the fireworks, and saw the remnants of the horror moments before.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'I came up to my bedroom on the seventh floor I was in my room for about a minute when I heard gunfire. I went out on to the balcony and, very sadly, I could see many bodes laying out on the road.

'There were many bodies, maybe twenty, and the strange thing was that nobody was moving. Nobody was trying to resuscitate anyone, which suggests everyone was hit so badly hit that there was no point.

'There were very few people around when I was looking down and eventually people started to arrive and they got towels from the beach club nextdoor and started to cover the bodies.

'There was a second body by the side of the truck and I assumed that was probably the perpetrator because the body wasn't covered and there were lots of police around it.'

Security forces were stretched as the truck hit people indiscriminately as they tried to flee from the carnage last night

French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve spoke to reporters early this morning as the death toll continued to rise

Heavily armed soldiers occupied the centre of the town to restore control after the attack which claimed at least 50 lives

An air ambulance arrived at the scene, pictured, to take survivors of the attack to hospital

Fireworks were filling the night sky as the drama unfolded, as the crowds enjoyed July 14th, which is always a Bank Holiday in France

Australian tourists Marcus and Sally-Anne Freeman were in Nice for Bastille Day and took pictures before the massacre took place

Thousands of people stood on the beach waiting for the fireworks display to celebrate the storming of the Bastille

The attack happened in the Promenade des Anglais in Nice in the South of France while victims were watching a firework display

Forensic officers tried to establish what exactly happened last night in an effort to determine whether the killer had any outside help

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, back row, second left, held crisis meetings in Nice in the aftermath of the terrorist attack

European Council president Donald Tusk said Europe stands united with the French people in the battle against violence and hatred, while Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders both described the attack as 'barbaric'.

DEFIANT FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE PLEDGES TO HIT ISIS IN SYRIA AND IRAQ HARDER French President Francois Hollande said it was undeniable that last night's attack was a terrorist atrocity In an emotional speech, President Hollande said: 'Last night a lorry hit a crowd of people in Nice with the intention of killing. 'At the time i speak there are 77 victims, of which many are children. 'Once again we have seen extreme violence and it is obvious we must do everything to fight against this terrorism. 'The driver was shot and killed. We are investigating whether he was linked to any others. 'France has been hit on its national day, the 14th of July. 'I want to express my solidarity with the nation, which is now in mourning. I have instructed all regional hospitals to be prepared for an influx of injured. 'Under these circumstances we must display caution. and we must work together but we must during this busy weekend show care and attention for security. 'I will once again mention our highest military operation of security which allow the mobilisation of 10,000 military officers across the country. 'This will cover all brigades of the police, who will be called from across the country, to the Nice region to assist their comrades 'We will also pay much attention to tightening borders and I will now announce that the state of emergency which was meant to be lifted will be extended a further three months. 'Following this we will show real force and military action in Iraq and Syria. 'Our defence department will hold a meeting later this morning. Followng this meeting I will travel with the prime minsiter to Nice later today. 'France has been hit by tragedy once again. This monstrosity of using a lorry to deliberately kill people, many people, who only came out to celebrate their national day. 'France is in tears, it is hurting but it is strong and she will be stronger - always stronger than the fanatics who wish to hurt us.' Advertisement

British Prime Minister Theresa May is being kept up to date on the 'terrible incident' in Nice, a Downing Street spokesman said.

He added: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration'.

British police forces have been asked to review security at major events across the UK following the deadly attack in Nice last night, which killed 84 people and left more than 100 injured.

Downing Street said the precautions are 'to ensure the appropriate security is in place' as Theresa May vowed to increase efforts to defeat the 'brutal' terrorist 'murderers'.

The new Prime Minister said Britain stands 'shoulder to shoulder' with France today after the 'horrifying' events in Nice last night saw several children among the victims of a terrorist who drove a truck through crowds celebrating Bastille Day.

A 'small number' of British nationals have been injured in the attack, the Prime Minister's spokesman said today.

The Government's emergency Cobra committee met this morning, while Mrs May said the UK's security threat remained at 'severe' - meaning a terror attack in Britain is highly likely.

Mrs May, who has vast experience of responding to terror threats having served as Home Secretary for the last six years, pledged to step up efforts to defeat terrorism to 'stand up for our values and for our freedom'.

France's ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, said last night that the world's democratic states are under attack in a Bastille Day reception in Washington.

'Our democracies - France, the United States, our other partners , we are besieged, we face a terrible threat.'

The country is already in a state of emergency after 130 people were killed in a terror attack in Paris in November. After last night's attack it was extended for another three months.

Following last night's horrific terror attack in Nice President François Hollande has promised to show 'real force' in Iraq as he confirmed that children were among the dead.

The French leader has returned to Paris from the city of Avignon to hold an urgent meeting at the Interior Ministry and is expected to head to Nice later this morning along with the Prime Minister.

Mr Hollande held a press conference shortly after Thursday night's incident, which left at least 77 people dead after a truck ploughed through crowds watching fireworks as they celebrated Bastille Day.

In an emotional speech, he said: 'Last night a lorry hit a crowd of people in Nice with the intention of killing. At the time I speak there are 77 victims, of which many are children.

'Once again we have seen extreme violence and it is obvious we must do everything to fight against this terrorism.'

In the meeting he will seek advice on how France should react to the attack, which took place just hours after he issued a statement confirming that he would end the nation's nine-month state of emergency.

Speaking earlier in the day, the President announced that the extreme terror threat level - which had been in place since the November 13 attacks which left 130 dead - would not extend beyond July 26.

According to France 24, the state of emergency was extended three times by parliament in an effort to provide additional resources to ensuring safety through the Euro-2016 soccer tournament, which concluded on Sunday.

ut following last night's horrific attack, he has now confirmed the state of emergency will be extended by a further three months.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr Hollande said: 'The driver of the lorry was shot and killed. We are investigating whether he was linked to any others.

'I want to express my solidarity with the nation, which is now in mourning. I have instructed all regional hospitals to be prepared for an influx of the injured.

'Under these circumstances we must display caution. and we must work together, but we must during this busy weekend show care and attention for security.

'I will once again mention our highest military operation of security, which will now allow the mobilisation of 10,000 military officers across the country.

'This will cover all brigades of the police, who will be called from across the country, to the Nice region to assist their comrades

'We will also pay much attention to tightening borders and I will now announce that the state of emergency which was meant to be lifted will be extended a further three months.

Boris Johnson said he is 'shocked and saddened' by the tragedy, which will be the first major international incident he will deal with as Foreign Secretary since being given the job earlier this week.

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.'

Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet gave an update on the rapidly developing situation. He said: 'There is no hostage-taking. An individual drove a truck into the crowd. He was killed by police.

'Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled.'

Local politician Eric Ciotti said: 'It's a scene of horror.' He confirmed the truck mowed down 'several hundred people'.

He said the truck drove for more than a mile hitting people along the promenade and confirmed the driver was killed by police 'apparently after an exchange of gunfire'.

The truck was riddled with at least 40 bullet holes. The front of the vehicle was badly damaged while the front tyres had been shot out.

The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation for 'murder, attempted murder in an organised group linked to a terrorist enterprise'.

Witnesses caught the moment the truck mounted the pavement on video as it steered towards a large group of revelers

Bodies were strewn over more than 100 metres along the promenade in Nice in the South of France

People leaving the area were ordered to hold their hands up as they evacuated the scene near the sea front in Nice last night

Shocked survivors held each other after witnessing the massacre which killed more than 70 people injuring at least 150 others

Soldiers secured the scene while emergency workers treated the wounded and checked on those killed in yesterday's massacre

Within an hour of the attack, French authorities had handed over the investigation to anti-terrorist police

The Hotel Negresco was used as a make-shift triage centre to house survivors of last night's terrorist attack

At least 15 people are believed to be in a critical condition following last night's terrorist attack in Nice

Amid the chaotic scenes people were separated from their loved ones and were unaware whether they had survived the massacre

Emergency services used bars, restaurants, casinos and hotels as triage centres to deal with the walking wounded

A massive security operation was launched in the aftermath of the deadly massacre with survivors evacuated with their hands up

Emergency services took badly wounded survivors away from the scene in a fleet of ambulances to nearby hospitals for treatment

The front of the truck was badly damaged after it knocked down dozens of people enjoying an evening by the sea front

A man holding a small girl carried the traumatised youngster away from the scene of the massacre in Nice, southern France

French anti-terrorist police have taken over the investigation with US President Barack Obama promising his assistance

TIMELINE OF TERROR: DEADLY ISIS ATTACKS ON WEST IN LAST 12 MONTHS Location Date Attack Death toll Injuries Istanbul June 29, 2016 Triple suicide bombing at city's Ataturk airport



Three attackers arrived in a taxi and began firing at the terminal entrance. They blew themselves up after police fired back - with CCTV footage capturing the moment one wounded extremist detonated his explosive vest seconds after a hero officer tried to detain him 41 230 Orlando June 12, 2016 Mass shooting at gay nightclub Pulse



Lone gunman Omar Mateen - a 29-year-old American security guard - sprayed bullets across the dancefloor before taking hostages after entering the Florida nightclub in the middle of the night armed with an AR-15. He was shot and killed by Orlando police after a three-hour standoff 49 53 Brussels March 22, 2016 Nail bombings in Brussels Airport



Two suicide bombers carrying homemade bombs in large suitcases attacked a departure hall at Brussels Airport in Zaventem. They exploded nine seconds apart. Another explosion took place just over an hour later in the middle carriage of a three-carriage train at Maalbeek metro station

35 340 Istanbul January 12, 2016 Suicide bomber detonates in the city's tourist-heavy historical centre



Nabil Fadli, a Syrian member of the Islamic State walked up to a tour group standing in Sultanahmet Square and blew himself up. Most of the victims were German but also came from Peru, South Korea and Norway 13 15 Paris November 13, 2015 Bombings and shootings in Bataclan and across the French capital



A series of coordinated attacks occurred at the national stadium during a football match between France and Germany, followed by suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafés, restaurants and a music venue in the centre of the city 137 368

Egypt October 23, 2015 Bomb brings down Russian jet over Egypt



Metrojet Flight 9268 comes down in Sinai. Shortly after the crash, the Islamic State Sinai Branch, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for the incident 224 0 Tunisia June 26, 2015 Mass shooting at packed tourist beach



Attack occurred at Port El Kantaoui where hundreds of Brits were holidaying. Seifeddine Rezgui Yacoubi, disguised as a tourist, socialised with others, and then took out a Kalashnikov assault rifle concealed in a beach umbrella and fired at the tourists on the beach. He entered a hotel, shooting at people he came across 38 39

US President Barack Obama has condemned what appears to be 'a horrific terrorist attack' and has directed his officials to provide any assistance required by the French government.

He said: '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 civilians.

'We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack.

'We know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.

'On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world.'

Carrying on: One women in Nice decided to sunbathe on a wall close to where the attack happened on the Promenade des Anglais

Holidaygoers: People arrived back at the beach with their inflatables on Friday after the horrific attack the night before

Devastated: A man appears emotional as he sits near a French flag along the beachfront the day after the attack

His Secretary of State John Kerry added: 'The horrendous attack in Nice is an attack against innocent people on a day that celebrates Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

'On behalf of all Americans, and especially the great many with close ties to France, I offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who were killed and our hopes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

'I was proud to stand alongside French leaders earlier today at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, and the United States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this time of tragedy. We will provide whatever support is needed.

'Our embassy in Paris is making every effort to account for the welfare of U.S. citizens in Nice. Any U.S. citizens in Nice should contact friends and family directly to inform them of their well being.'

President Hollande, pictured, was updated on the massacre as he flew to the crisis nerve centre last night with PM Manuel Valls, right

Across the city, hundreds of people hid and locked themselves in cafes and bars to protect themselves from possible attack

Tens of thousands of people gathered along the coast to celebrate the annual bank holiday when they were attacked

Eyewitnesses reported there were exchanges of gunfire between police and suspected terrorists in Nice, southern France

People ran for their lives as the truck ploughed through the group of people in Nice, southern France

Several people have been injured as videos emerged showing people fleeing in panic

Emergency services helped wounded survivors into a fleet of ambulances to evacuate them from the scene for treatment

Bastille Day, which celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris during the French Revolution of 1789, is the country's biggest public holiday.

BASTILLE DAY: FRANCE'S ANNUAL DAY OF CELEBRATION Bastille Day marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison by angry Paris crowds that helped spark the French Revolution. The uprising was organised by ordinary Parisians intent on making clear they would no longer accept the absolute power of King Louis XVI's as they faced high taxes and extortionate food costs. There were not many prisoners in the Bastille at the time of the storming - only 7 people were freed - but the point was made. That very night, 800 men destroyed the Bastille. What happened that day began the French Revolution, in turn bringing about the modern French Republic. The July 14 'Fête de la Fédération' - which marked the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille - became a French national holiday in 1880 and has been observed ever since. The day itself is celebrated passionately across France, with events held throughout the country on what is now a bank holiday. Weeks later, the National Assembly abolished feudalism and adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen as its constitution. France became united under the agreement: 'Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights.' Months on both Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed.


Nice mayor Christian Estrosi said: 'This is the worst Nice drama of history. We are terrified and we want to present to all the families our sincere condolences.'

He said flags in the city would be flown at half-mast, while a concert by US superstar Rhianna and the popular jazz festival have both been cancelled.

Horrific images depicting men and women lying on the side of a road close to the Promenade des Anglais appeared on social media.

Fireworks were filling the night sky as the drama unfolded, as the crowds enjoyed July 14th, which is always a Bank Holiday in France.

France has been repeatedly targeted in recent months.

Colin Srivastava told BBC News: 'We were basically sitting just in front of the Old Town in Nice and saw several hundred people running towards us looking panic stricken.

'We tried to ask a few of them what the hell was going on and finally got one that said, 'You need to go, the police have told us to run'.

'Just around about the base of the hill where the castle is in Nice the police came running along and said, 'Run now'.

'We had absolutely no idea what was going on, to be honest with you.

'When we got down into the port in Nice we were told by a few people who'd obviously run faster than we had that there was the story of a lorry that had gone into the people, basically cannoned into the crowd, and there were also shots fired, which is something we didn't hear about until just now on French news.'

Meanwhile, in Paris, a fire broke out near the Eiffel Tower, however authorities said this incident was not suspicious.

According to the White House: 'The president has been apprised of the situation in Nice, France, and his national security team will update him, as appropriate.'

French President Francois Hollande is heading to the Interior Ministry's crisis centre.

Police shot and killed the driver, who drove at high speed for over 100 yards along the famed Promenade des Anglais seafront before hitting the mass of spectators, regional sub-prefect Sebastien Humbert told France Info radio.

Humbert described it as a clear criminal attack, although the driver was not yet identified. Residents of the Mediterranean city close to the Italian border were advised to stay indoors. There was no sign of any other attack.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy tweeted: 'Deep emotion and infinite sadness at the Nice attack. Solidarity with the Nicois and the inhabitants of the Alpes-Maritimes.'

Fireworks were filling the night sky as the drama unfolded, as the crowds enjoyed July 14th, which is always a Bank Holiday in France.

'It is absolute chaos,' said an eye witness who works in the Nice judiciary. 'There are reports of dozens of people killed, and many more injured. Bodies are lying everywhere.

'Police are flooding the streets, including anti-terrorism officers. Nobody knows what to do, except to hide away. Gunmen are meant to be targeting hotels.'

The lorry was seen mounting the pavement and piling into anyone the driver could see, ramming over those who tried to run away.

There were also separate reports of a possible fire near the Eiffel Tower in Paris last nigh according to witnesses

EXCLUSIVE - 'He drank alcohol, ate pork… and took drugs. He was NOT a Muslim': Truck terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel's cousin reveals he is an 'unlikely jihadist' who beat his wife and NEVER went to the mosque

Monster: Bouhlel, who shot indiscriminately at police and members of the public, was described by a cousin as a 's***' and a 'nasty piece of work' who never observed the rules of Islam

Truck terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was an 'unlikely jihadist' who flouted every rule of Islam, his cousin told MailOnline today.

The 31-year-old - who wreaked terror on the Nice seafront as he turned an evening celebrating Bastille Day into a night of terror in which he murdered 84 innocent people - drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs.

He never prayed or attended a mosque, and hit his wife - with whom he had three children - and was in the process of getting a divorce.

Bouhlel, who had been known to the French police since January, had been on the radar for six months for petty criminality.

It is understood he lost his job as a delivery driver when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into four cars.

Yesterday, he was stopped by police just hours before he crushed scored of people underneath the wheels of his 19 tonne truck and fired shots indiscriminately at police and innocent bystanders.

He told officers that he was delivering ice-cream to the area and was allowed to park on the waterfront for several hours.

Horrifying footage of the moment the truck turned into a deadly juggernaut were uploaded online within minutes, showing a trail of dead bodies left in its path.

Walid Hamou, a cousin of Bouhlel's wife Hajer, told MailOnline: 'Bouhlel was not religious. He did not go to the mosque, he did not pray, he did not observe Ramadan.

'He drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs. This is all forbidden under Islam.

'He was not a Muslim, he was a s***.

'He beat his wife, my cousin, he was a nasty piece of work.'

Bouhlel's wife was taken into protective custody by police this morning.

Detectives had raided the 12th floor apartment she had shared with her estranged husband in the early hours of the morning and another rented property nearby.

More disturbing facts emerged about Bouhlel's frame of mind in the hours leading to his murderous rampage on the Promenade des Anglais.

Kicked in: Bouhlel's home was broken into and examined for clues. He had been known to the French police since January, but was not deemed a terror threat

Murderous: After crushing scores of people with the lorry, Bouhlel then got out and opened fire on the terrified revellers trying to flee

Target: French police raided a apartment Bouhlel was renting close to his estranged wife and ransacked the property, looking for clues

Not a Muslim: Walid Hamou, a cousin of Bouhlel's wife Hajer, told MailOnline: 'Bouhlel was not religious. He did not go to the mosque, he did not pray, he did not observe Ramadan'

Thief: Bouhlel was already known by police following accusations of domestic violence and theft, and was arrested following a pub brawl on January 27

Wissam, a Tunisian neighbour from the same village as the driver claimed: 'On the Thursday night he was drinking with a colleague and they argued. His pal said you're worth nothing and he replied: 'One day, you'll hear about me.'

He was not a Muslim, he was a s***. 'He beat his wife, my cousin, he was a nasty piece of work.

Speaking to L'Express he said: Look this is someone who drinks, smokes cannabis.'

Hannan, who lived on the floor below, said: 'He always looked at me oddly. He stared at us and we avoided him.'

Another neighbour described him as shifty and unwillingly to make contact.

Also, it now seems that the guns found in the van were fake and the grenade inoperable.

'Why?' said Wissam. 'What was the point of that?'

Focus: Officers pored over every inch of the 12th floor apartment Bouhlel lived in with his wife Hajer and the rented apartment nearby which he moved into when they separated

Fired: The father-of-three worked as a delivery driver, but is believed to have been fired recently after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into four vehicles on a highway

12th floor: Police raided the 12th floor apartment as more details emerged about Bouhlel's life. The 31-year-old was stopped by police just hours before he crushed scored of people underneath the wheels of his 19 tonne truck and fired shots indiscriminately at police and innocent bystanders

It comes after Bouhlel was named by police as the terrorist who drove a lorry for more than a mile through crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city.

The attack left a trail of devastation, killing at least 84 people including 10 children, on the Promenade des Anglais.

After crushing scores of people with the lorry, the driver then got out and opened fire on the terrified revellers trying to flee.

Police were able to end the attack by shooting dead the gunmen.

Mr Hamou, 30, said: 'My cousin is with the police. They took her way at about 11am this morning, for her own protection. She is at the police station now giving a statement.'

Bouhlel is understood have separated from his wife two years ago.

Neighbour Nassim, 33, told MailOnline: 'Bouhlel used to live in this block of flats with his wife and family. I lived next door to him.

'He was not a fanatical muslim. He drank alcohol, he chased girls, he went to nightclubs. He did not go to the mosque. He was not religious at all.

'He split up from his wife about two years ago. She is a lovely woman.'

Bouhlel had lived with his wife and three young children in a flat in a run-down apartment block in a poor neighbourhood of Nice.

He worked as a delivery driver, but is believed to have been fired recently after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into four vehicles on a highway.

Bouhlel was already known by police following accusations of domestic violence and theft, and was arrested following a pub brawl on January 27.

Council workmen were today repairing the front door of the former family home which had been smashed in by anti-terrorist police in the early hours of the morning.

Meanwhile detectives and anti-terrorist police were sifting through his belongings at the small rental apartment nearby where he had lived since the split.

Forensic officers were investigating a white van outside the property.

Faces of the missing: Friends and families in desperate plea to find children feared caught up in Bastille Day truck massacre

These are the faces of children and adults missing after the Bastille Day massacre in Nice.

Friends and family members have shared photos of their loved ones online in a desperate bid to locate them after 84 people were killed when a terrorist gunman drove a 19-tonne lorry through crowds on a mile-long killing spree on Thursday night.

The images shared on social media include friends, brothers, sisters, mothers and numerous young people who have reportedly vanished since the attack carried out by a 31-year-old French Tunisian named by local newspaper Nice Matin as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel.

The married father of three, mounted pavements at high speed and ploughed through crowds watching fireworks on Bastille Day.

At least 10 babies and children were killed, some in buggies, with least 54 children also being treated in hospital.

Many of the heartbreaking messages posted on Twitter include photos of mothers and daughters and show screenshots of frantic messages sent to the missing, with no reply. They were shared via a Twitter account called Recherche NICE.

Here are their faces:

These are the faces of children and adults missing after the Bastille Day massacre in Nice - posted online by the people terrified for their safety

'This is war:' Donald Trump quickly seizes on 'horrific' Nice Bastille Day attack and says if elected president, he will ask Congress for declaration of war on ISIS

Donald Trump said if elected president, he would declare war on the Islamic State - hours after quickly seizing on horrific reports of another deadly attack in France to ask his Twitter followers: 'When will we learn?'

Trump was responding to reports that 80 people had been killed and more than 100 injured when a truck carrying weapons and hand grenades plowed into people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice on Thursday evening.

Although it was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, Trump said in an interview with Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, Trump said: 'This is war.'

He said if he's elected president, he would ask Congress for a declaration of war on ISIS – as unconfirmed reports claimed the terror group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Quick: Donald Trump seized on horrific reports of another deadly attack in France, asking his Twitter followers: 'When will we learn?'

The 70-year-old said that to fight the terror group, which he called a 'cancer,' NATO should be used 'for a purpose.'

In another interview, Trump called for President Obama to acknowledge the problem was 'radical Islam.'

He also reiterated his call for the United States to tighten its borders and brought up his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country as a solution.

As news broke of the attack, the billionaire real estate mogul tweeted: 'Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse'.

In an interview with Fox News' Great van Susteren later on Thursday night, Trump said 'it's about time' Obama used the term 'radical Islam.'

Although not much is known yet about the attacks in Nice, Tump said: 'Generally speaking, I don't think the people come out of Sweden, OK?

'It's probably, possibly, but if it is indeed radical Islamic terrorism, it's about time that [Obama] would say so, OK?

'It's about time, because you're never gonna solve this problem unless you're gonna define it. People would sigh with relief. If it's radical Islamic terrorism, he oughta say it.'

Meanwhile, President Obama condemned what he said 'appears to be a horrific terrorist attack' in Nice.

Noting that the attack occurred on Bastille Day, Obama said: 'We are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.'

Obama said the U.S. has offered French officials 'any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice.'

But Trump used the attacks as an opportunity to reiterate his plan of solving the problem of terrorism by placing a ban on Muslims coming into the country.

'We have to tighten things up. Look at San Bernardino, what happened there.

'You look at Paris, prior to this, 130 people dead. Hundreds of people still in the hospital. I mean, what are we doing? We're trying to be so nice. We're trying to be so civil.

'We're so weak, the world has got to strengthen up and we have to be very tight with our borders.'

On the attacks in Nice, Trump said: 'We're living in a whole different world that there's no respect for law and order. There's no respect for anything or anybody.

'This has to be dealt with very harshly. When I come out with my non-politically correct statements that a lot of people love and some people think are so terrible and then you have attacks like this and so many other attacks

'We have to get awfully tough and we have to get very, very smart and vigilant. And if we don't, we're just not going to have a society, we're not going to have a world anymore.'

Asked what he would do to address the problem of terrorism if he was president, Trump replied: 'Well, I'd be making it very, very hard for people to come into our country, for one thing, from terrorist areas.

'I would be so extreme in terms of documentation. Obama's allowing a lot of people to come in. No idea who they are. They're from Syria, maybe, but they have no paperwork.

'I would not allow people to come in from terrorist nations. I would do extreme vetting, I would call it extreme vetting too.

'Our country has tremendous problems. We don't need any more of the problems.'

In a separate interview on Fox, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said the U.S. needs to 'stand strongly' with France and strengthen alliances, including with NATO, in order to ferret out terrorism and prevent future attacks.

Clinton says she would intensify efforts to put together a more effective coalition against terrorism.

In the wake of a series of co-ordinated terror attacks that left 130 people dead in Paris on November 13 last year, Trump similarly seized the opportunity to blame stringent gun laws for the massacre.

At a campaign rally shortly afterwards, he told his supporters that it would have been a 'much different situation' if the victims had been armed.

He also said he would close some mosques to stop extremist attacks in the United States.

'You're going to have to watch and study the mosques because a lot of talk is going on at the mosques,' Trump said during an interview with MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' program in November last year.

Then, after a radicalized Muslim couple opened fire and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, Trump controversially proposed a ban on all Muslim immigrants into the United States.

'Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on,' his campaign said in a release last December.

Despite a backlash, Trump stuck with his proposal. During Fox Business Network's GOP debate in January, Trump said: 'Look, we have to stop with political correctness.

'We have to get down to creating a country that's not going to have the kind of problems that we've had with people flying planes into the World Trade Centers, with the — with the shootings in California, with all the problems all over the world. ... We have to find out what's going on.'

Attack: Gunshots rang out in the streets, with gunmen reportedly targeting hotels and cafes in the port city with residents warned to lock themselves inside

Standing guard: A soldier is seen near the site of the attack on the French Riviera town of Nice after a van plouwed into a crowd leaving a fireworks display

Later, Trump began to stress the 'temporary nature' of his proposed ban.

'This is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on,' he said on Fox News radio in May.

But then, in a speech reacting to the massacre in Orlando in June, Trump reiterated his proposed Muslim ban – despite the fact that the gunman was an American citizen, born in New York to Afghan parents.

'I called for a ban after San Bernardino and was met with great scorn and anger,' Trump said during a speech the day after the shooting.

'But now ... many are saying that I was right to do so. And although the pause is temporary, we must find out what is going on. We have to do it,' he said.

'It will be lifted, this ban, when and as a nation we're in a position to properly and perfectly screen these people coming into our country.'

Gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside a gay nightclub on June 12, killing 49 people in what became the worst mass shooting in the United States.

ISIS quickly claimed credit for the attacks and authorities said Mateen called 911 during the massacre to pledge allegiance to the terror group.

Hours after the massacre, a gloating Trump took to Twitter to say: 'Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism. I don't want congrats. I want toughness and vigilance. We must be smart!'

Meanwhile, Trump said that in light of the attack in Nice, he will postpone a news conference scheduled for Friday in New York concerning his Vice-Presidential announcement.

After a day of speculation about who will join Trump on the GOP's presidential ticket, Trump wrote on Twitter: 'In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow's news conference concerning my Vice Presidential announcement.'

Trump was set to formally announce the decision on his choice of running mate at an 11am news conference at a hotel in midtown Manhattan on Friday, with just three days to go until Republicans gather in Cleveland, Ohio, to officially select their nominee for the White House.

Trump's campaign advisers told Republican officials that the 70-year-old has picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, two Republican sources told Reuters.

However, Trump officials said he had not yet made a final decision.

On Thursday, CNN and ABC both reported, without naming their sources, that Pence, a 57-year-old Christian evangelical and stalwart of the American right, had accepted the vice presidential slot.

But the announcement will now be delayed, Trump said on Thursday.

Late on Thursday, a truck drive onto the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of revelers who'd been gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France.

At least 80 people were killed and dozens injured, authorities say. The truck reportedly mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards people watching a fireworks display in the city.

'We were at the Neptune beach and a firework display had just finished,' a witness called Antoine said. 'That is when we saw a white lorry. It was going quickly at 60-70 kilometres an hour.'

Gunshots rang out in the streets, with gunmen targeting hotels and cafes in the port city as residents were warned to lock themselves in doors for their safety.

The RAID anti-terror squad has been deployed to the city.

Hundreds of people were watching fireworks along the promenade when the attack began.

The gunman jumped out of the truck after plowing through the pedestrians and started opening fire.

Officials said the driver was shot dead near the scene. A second suspect is thought to be on the run.



