Nice attack: Terrifying moment lorry ploughs into crowds killing at least 84 people

Jamie Bullen15 July 2016

This is the terrifying moment a lorry raced into a crowd of people in a terror attack that left at least 84 people dead.

Blood-curdling screams rang out as the white truck hurtled down the packed Promenade des Anglais in Nice as crowds fled for safety.

Revellers had gathered on the French city's seafront to watch fireworks as France celebrated Bastille Day.

Dramatic footage taken from a balcony overlooking the road shows security forces shoot at the vehicle but unable to bring it to a stop before the driver was eventually shot dead.

Carnage: Bullet holes are seen on the truck that ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores celebrating the Bastille Day
Reuters/Eric Gaillard

French president Francois Hollande said children were among those killed in what he described as a terrorist attack.

At least 84 people have been confirmed dead and almost 20 others are fighting for their lives.

The white truck races down the promenade as security forces shoot at the vehicle

A state of emergency already in place in the country following the Paris terror attacks has been extended by 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 people, who only came out to celebrate their national day.

Fleeing for their lives: People running away after dozens of people were killed when a lorry ploughed into a Bastille Day crowd
@harp_detectives/PA Wire

“France is in tears. It is hurting but it is strong, and she will be strong, always stronger than the fanatics who wish to hurt us.”

No one has yet claimed responsibility.

Nice Terror Attack - In Pictures. Warning: Contains images some readers may find distressing

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

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

Terror: A man runs near the scene of an attack after a truck drove onto the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of people
AP Photo/Luca Bruno

“F****** 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!”

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the identification of the lorry driver was in progress.

Security forces: Police officers and soldiers block the access to the scene of an attackin which at least 84 people were killed
AP Photo/Claude Paris

He said: “We are in a war with terrorists who want to strike us at any price and in a very violent way.”

Nice regional president Christian Estrosi said guns and grenades were found in the lorry, whose driver was shot dead by police.

The politician, who was at the celebration when the carnage happened, said: "This is the worst Nice drama of history.

"We are terrified and we want to present to all the families our sincere condolences.

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