Mr Hollande said the truck attack was of a "terrorist character" and extended the national state of emergency by three months. French President Francois Hollande announced a further tightening of security across the country. Credit:AP The white delivery truck mounted the footpath and drove at speed for hundreds of metres into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday on the Promenade des Anglais seaside walk in the centre of town on Thursday night. Bodies were strewn across the road. The state of emergency was brought in after Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris last November. It was due to expire on July 26.

Only hours earlier, Mr Hollande said that France would not extend the state of emergency. Bodies are seen on the ground after at least 84 people were killed in Nice. Credit:Reuters "We can't extend the state of emergency indefinitely, it would make no sense. That would mean we're no longer a republic with the rule of law applied in all circumstances," Mr Hollande told journalists in a traditional Bastille Day interview. Nearly 230 people have died in France in eight terrorist attacks in 19 months. A helicopter prepares to evacuate the victims. Credit:Reuters

Australians caught up Sydney man Marcus Freeman was walking back from the Bastille Day fireworks when the attack occurred. The white delivery truck that ploughed into a crowd in Nice on Bastille Day. Credit:Twitter: @Nice_Matin "All of a sudden we heard fire," Mr Freeman told ABC's Radio National on Friday morning. Tour company Topdeck said one of its customers was injured in the attack.

Police officers and a soldier stand by the sealed-off area where the attack took place. Credit:AP "Unfortunately one of our customers has reported some minor injuries. They are with Topdeck staff and are currently being tended to in hospital. Our family liaison team has been in direct contact with the injured customer's family and we are ensuring the best care possible," the company said. Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Australian embassy was working to see if any Australians had been affected. French soldiers stand guard by the sealed off area of an attack after a truck drove on to the sidewalk and ploughed through a crowd of revellers. Credit:AP People with concerns for the welfare of Australian family and friends in the region should try to contact them directly, DFAT said.

If unable to reach them, Australians should call the 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas. An image from the scene. Credit:Twitter Telstra has offered its customers free calls to France to check on friends and relatives. "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration in France," the telco said in a statement. "We're offering free standard voice calls and texts made from personal post-paid mobiles and fixed lines to France from 12.01am AEST on 15 July until 11.59pm AEST on 21 July 2016.

"For personal pre-paid customers, we're offering a refund of the costs of standard voice calls and SMS to France [during the same time]." 'Criminal attack' Guns and grenades were found inside the truck, a member of Parliament for the region told BMF TV. A police source said that the identity papers of French-Tunisian was found in the truck, AFP reported. Another government official said the driver of the truck also fired on the crowd before he was killed by police.

Anti-terrorism investigators have taken over the investigation. However, France has yet to declare it a terrorism incident. Supporters of Islamic State celebrated on social media. "The number of those killed had reached 62 french crusaders and sinful infidels in Nice, France.. God is great, God is great," read one tweet. Regional sub-prefect Sebastien Humbert told France Info radio that it was a clear criminal attack. Residents of the Mediterranean city close to the Italian border were advised to stay indoors. There was no sign of any other attack.

Blood in the street Nice Matin quoted its reporter at the scene saying there were many injured people and blood on the street. It published a photograph of a damaged, long-distance delivery truck, which it said was "riddled with bullets", and images of emergency services treating the injured. Damien Allemand, the paper's correspondent, was quoted as saying: "People are running. It's panic. He rode up on to the Prom and piled into the crowd ... There are people covered in blood. There must be many injured." There were reports of explosions and gunshots as people scrambled to escape.

"Dear Nicois," local government leader Christian Estrosi wrote in a tweet. "The driver of a truck appears to have killed dozens of people. Stay at home for the time being. More news to follow." Mr Estrosi, the President of the Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur region, warned of a death toll in the "dozens" and told locals in a social media posting to stay inside. A woman told France Info she and others had fled in terror. "The lorry came zig-zagging along the street. We ran into a hotel and hid in the toilets with lots of people." Another woman told the station she was sheltering in a restaurant on the promenade with about 200 other people, where things had calmed down about two hours after the incident. Hali Rose McField a witness told CNN a crowd had gathered on a promenade to watch fireworks to mark France's national day when the truck struck.

"I saw some parents holding onto their children," Ms McField said. "It was very scary." American Eric Drattell told the network that helicopters were circling above the scene and said hundreds of people had taken shelter near the beach. It is close to peak tourist season for the holiday city. The French interior ministry said that, despite reports, there was no hostage situation. Amid chatter on social media of a hostage situation, police called on people not to propagate rumours that were hampering their work. A scheduled concert by Rhianna at Allianz Riviera stadium on Friday has been cancelled, The New York Times reported.

A jazz festival starting at the Verdure Theatre on Saturday has also been cancelled. Sympathies with France: Turnbull "Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the people of France," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a statement. "Our nations are united in freedom's cause today, just as we were a hundred years ago [during World War I]."

The Governor-General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, is in France representing Australia for the commemoration. He tweeted: "We are in shock tonight in Paris as we learn about the tragic events unfolding in Nice. "On a day where Australians marched alongside their French counterparts this cruel attack has struck innocents celebrating their national day. "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the government and people of France." In a statement on Facebook, he said: "On a day where Australians marched alongside their French counterparts this cruel attack has struck innocents celebrating their national day."

Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten has described the attack as another tragedy inflicted on innocent people. He said the scenes were awful and Australia stood with its friends in France. His deputy and the party's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said their thoughts were with the loved ones of those who have died or are injured. US reaction US President Barack Obama condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms".

He said his country stood by France, "our oldest ally" after "what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack". US presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted that, in light of the attack, he has postponed Friday's news conference concerning his vice-presidential announcement.

Hallmarks of deliberate attack: terrorism expert Deakin University terrorism expert Greg Barton told Sky News the event had all the hallmarks of a deliberate attack. He said the approach suggested links to the Islamic State group, which has encouraged its supporters around the world to use whatever means they have to kill. "All of these elements suggest a deliberate attack, mostly likely a terror attack and balance of probability something linked to Islamic State.

"Maybe it's just one individual, maybe a small cell of individuals but the best defence against these attacks is intelligence and if you're dealing with a lone wolf ... you often don't get that intelligence opportunity," Dr Barton said. He said a large truck was an effective terrorist tool amid tight security. France had expected terrorist attacks during the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. Loading "The pattern of these attacks is, yes, someone will repeat this. Likely Islamic State will try and repeat this pattern now this has been proven," Dr Barton said. Agencies, Fairfax Media