A truck plowed through crowds of Bastille Day revelers Thursday night in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84 people and wounding dozens of others during the second deadliest terror attack in the country’s history.
The beachside celebration quickly turned to chaos as the driver reportedly opened fire on the crowd as a fireworks show ended and then slammed the panel truck through throngs of people.
Authorities say the man continued to fire at people as he drove more than a mile along the popular waterfront esplanade.
An Interior Ministry source told Agence France-Presse Friday morning that 84 people were killed.The driver was shot dead by police, said Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesman for French Interior Ministry.
Guns and grenades were later found inside the truck, along with papers belonging to a 31-year-old with dual French-Tunisian citizenship, according to local reports.
“This is an attack of which the terrorist character cannot be denied,” French president Francois Hollande said. “This attack…is again one of absolute violence.”
The mayor said all French government offices were being watched, and that the NYPD had a “presence” at Bastille Day celebrations and other key locations across the city.
“The NYPD is very much on alert right now,” he added. “That being said, there are no specific and credible threats directed at New York City. Our hearts go out to the people of France and the people of Nice.”
Gov. Cuomo has directed law enforcement to step up security across New York following the attack.
“The horrific rampage in Nice is a direct attack on the universal values our two countries have long championed and upheld,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This is not only an attack on France, but an attack on democracy.”
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