The Daily Star's FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Sign up today! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Travelling at about 40mph, the truck ploughed into pedestrians on the Promenade des Anglais seaside walk in the centre of Nice in France late on Thursday night.

At least 84 people have been killed, with many more injured, after the driver then alighted from the lorry and shot at crowds.

Authorities say at least 10 of the dead are children, with 54 youngsters taken to hospital. Two died either during or after surgery.

French president Francois Hollande said the country is "in tears", with up 52 more people critically injured after the atrocity.

Of them, 28 are described as being in an "extremely critical" condition as they battle to survive the attack.

Young and old, families and holidaymakers – some British – had been enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks.

But out of the blue a white lorry began speeding towards them, zig-zagging to hit pedestrians as it careered more than a mile down the promenade.

The world has united to condemn the atrocity, with the suspected jihadi perpetrator, 31-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, shot dead by police.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, as cops arrest three people in Nice over the atrocity, after the killers ex-wife was held on Friday.

Two Brits are among the injured, as dozens of tourists who witnessed the attack told of their horror. Downing Street has said a "small number" of Britons are affected.

France, a nation which lost 130 people to the November Paris attacks and endured the Charlie Hebdo atrocity last January, mourns yet again.

**Some upsetting images below show dead children**

(Image: DS) (Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Major events in France have been guarded by troops and armed police since the ISIS attacks last year, but it appeared to have taken many minutes to halt the progress of the truck as it tore along pavements and a pedestrian zone.

French president Mr Hollande said many of the victims were children as he confirmed the country's state of emergency would be extended for a further three months.

Mr Hollande said: "France has been hit by a tragedy once again.

"This monstrosity of using a lorry to deliberately kill people, many peope, who only came out to celebrate their national day.

"France is in tears. It is hurting but it is strong and it will be stronger – always stronger than the fanatics who wish to hurt us."

The first named victims were US father Sean Copeland and his 11-year-old son Brodie, who were killed as their horrified relatives watched on.

A German teacher and two pupils have also died, along with a Russian student, an Armenian and a Ukrainian.

It is thought the majority of those killed were foreign nationals.

Mr Hollande also announced 10,000 military officers will be mobilized across the country to assist police in Nice.

Borders will be tightened.

(Image: REUTERS)

The Queen and Prince Philip have sent their "most sincere condolences" to the families of those killed, adding they were "deeply shocked and saddened".

Earlier new PM Theresa May said the UK would "shoulder to shoulder with France" after the attack by "murdering terrorists".

Unconfirmed reports say ISIS has claimed responsibilty.

Local media are reporting that the killer is a 31-year-old Nice resident of Tunisian origin.

Other reports said the driver shouted "Allahu Akbar".

Sources say he fired a pistol several times before cops shot him dead.

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a terrorism investigation.

(Image: MAP)

The nightmarish attack on a city popular with British holiday makers – and which hosted England fans at Euro 2016 two weeks ago – is the deadliest since the Paris attacks in Novemnber.

Witnesses said the truck, picked up speed and mounted the pavement for more than one mile.

A video shows the vehicle mowing people down as they fled.

Other footage seen by Daily Star Online – which is too graphic to publish – shows mutilated bodies strewn across the road.

More than 100 people leapt into the sea to escape the carnage.

(Image: REUTERS)

The driver has been shot dead by police and windows of the truck are peppered with bullet holes.

Guns and grenades were found in the back of the vehicle.

French TV channel BFM said President Francois Hollande was returning to Paris from the city of Avignon to hold a crisis meeting at the Interior Ministry.

He and prime minister Manuel Valls will visit Nice later on Friday.

(Image: GETTY)

People in Nice were told to stay inside and limit phone calls as the city was placed into lockdown.

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was being kept up to date on events in Nice, adding: "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration."

New foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: "Shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice and the terrible loss of life."

(Image: REUTERS)

Bodies were lying by the beach, as the police and other emergency services tried to deal with a mass panic.

The area around the Promenade is full of hotels and restaurants, which were all packed at the height of the holiday season.

"It is absolute chaos," said an eyewitness who works in the Nice judiciary.

Badly injured people were treated on the scene amid pools of blood.

(Image: RETUERS) (Image: SG)

"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."

Another eyewitness said: "I saw people mowed down like bowling pins."

(Image: REUTERS)

Meanwhile supporters of ISIS celebrated the Nice attack 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.

The driver was shot dead, sub-prefect Sebastien Humbert told France Infos radio.

Humbert described it as a clear criminal attack.

(Image: REUTERS)

There was no sign of any other attack.

On Sunday, France had breathed a sigh of relief as the month-long Euro 2016 soccer tournament ended without a feared attack.

(Image: RETEURS) (Image: TWITTER)

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."

(Image: REUTERS)

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

The Promenade des Anglais is famed as a landmark and runs for some four miles. Below it lies a rocky pebble beach.

It is a popular walking and cycling route and was busy with revellers celebrating and watching fireworks.

(Image: REUTERS)

France was already under a State of Emergency following last year's attacks on Paris, when almost 150 people were murdered by Islamic State.

The city hosted the England team – along with tens of thousands of fans – just weeks ago for their Euro 2016 clash against Iceland.

It is also a popular holiday spot with Brits.

Lawyer Harjit Sarang was among those caught up in the terror with her children.

The Londoner tweeted: "Running through crowds in Nice with kids and terrified. Never taking kids to a public event again. Finally back to hotel. Hate this!

"F***ing scariest thing ever running through crowds with boys. Got back to hotel and couldn't get in for people seeking refuge!

"Can't stop shaking. Hate that my boys had to experience this. Why did I take them. Why did they do this and why the f*** is this happening!"

(Image: Twitter)

The man had opened fire on the crowd, president of Nice region Christian Estrosi told BFM TV, and weapons and grenades were found inside the truck after he was killed.

"It's a scene of horror," local member of parliament Eric Ciotti told France Info, saying the truck had sped along the pavement fronting the Mediterranean, before being stopped by police after "mowing down several hundred people".

ISIS linked groups – using French Muslims – have used vehicles and car bombs as weapons.

The CHU de Nice – a hospital in the town – has tonight tweeted the number for worried families in the hours following the horrific incident.

(+33) 04 93 72 22 22