A truck has crashed into a crowd gathered for France’s Bastille Day fireworks on the seafront of the southern city of Nice, killing at least 70 people, French media have reported.

The sub-prefect of the local Alpes-Maritimes area, Sébastien Humbert, told French rolling news channel BFM TV: “The death toll is extremely high.”



He said a truck had ploughed into a crowd over a long distance on the beachfront Promenade des Anglais “which explains the extremely high toll”.

He added that there had been an exchange of gunfire and the truck driver had been killed. He described it as “a criminal event”. He told residents to avoid the centre of Nice.

Nice regional president, Christian Estrosi, who was at the celebration when the carnage happened, said: “This is the worst Nice drama of history for more than 70 victims have already been reported.

“We are terrified and we want to present to all the families our sincere condolences.” He said that the vehicle had been loaded with guns and grenades.

Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said that the truck drove 2km (1.3 miles) through the crowd.

Wassim Bouhlel, a Nice native who spoke to the Associated Press near the city’s seafront, 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.”

The scene in Nice where it is alleged a truck or lorry drove into a crowd. Photograph: @Admitonesin

However, officials were cautious about accounts that the driver had opened fire and police also quashed social media rumours of a hostage situation.

The Gendarmerie Nationale tweeted: “Emergency operation in progress. Keep calm and avoid downtown area. Follow the official accounts to be informed.”

Nice’s Promenade des Anglais is famed as a landmark and runs for some four miles. It was busy with revellers celebrating and watching fireworks.



A reporter for the French news agency AFP described seeing a white vehicle driving at high speed on to the promenade as people were leaving after the annual Bastille Day celebration display.

“We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around,” he said, adding that the incident took place near the Hotel Negresco.

“It was absolute chaos,” he said.

A huge security cordon was established, closing off the central Place Massena by 23.30 GMT, AFP added.

BFM TV said President François Hollande was returning to Paris from Avignon to hold a crisis meeting at the interior ministry.







Ségolène Royal, the French environment minister, tweeted her “distress and saddened solidarity with the victims in Nice and all the peope of Nice”.

British security officials and the government were monitoring the situation in Nice, as the seriousness of the incident escalated.

The initial details suggest a tactic which jihadi propaganda has suggested for several years, with a vehicle ploughing into a crowd. Inspire magazine, affiliated with al-Qaida, urged the tactic several years ago.

If the attack is confirmed as a terror incident there are two immediate direct consequences for the UK. First is the decision to use a lorry as a weapon. Secondly, past attacks overseas have led to increase in hate incidents in the UK directed at Muslims in Britain.

Amber Rudd, the new home secretary, has been briefed by officials on the emerging details from France. Rudd was appointed on Wednesday. On Thursday night she left an event in central London – celebrating police bravery – without making any comment.

A spokesman at No 10 said the new prime minister, Theresa May, was being kept up to date on events, adding: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration.”

The White House said that Barack Obama had been appraised of the situation was being kept updated. The US president condemned “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice” and said he had directed his team to offer any assistance France may need in its investigation.

The Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, announced on Twitter that, after the events in Nice, he was delaying a press conference planned for Friday to announce his running mate.

He tweeted: “Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse.”

The French ambassador to the US, Gérard Araud, also tweeted: “Our democracies are besieged. Let’s stick more than ever to our values. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. Vive la France, vive les Etats-Unis!”