A day of French pride is now one of terror, panic and tragedy.
Dozens of people have been killed as a truck ploughed into revelers celebrating Bastille
Day in the coastal city of Nice.
It is a developing situation.
We have a correspondent on the ground.
Nathalie Tourret joins us from Paris.
Nathalie, another tragedy we're learning of from France.
Walk us through what happened.
Hello Connyoung.
A crowd of locals and French and foreign tourists - adults and many children- had gathered along
the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice, a large street that boarders the sea and where driving
had been banned for the night.
So that families could attend the Bastille Day fireworks.
People were listening to concerts.
And suddenly, around 11 pm, when the fireworks ended, coming from the south side of the Promenade,
a 19 tonne-lorry came up and plowed into the crowd, hitting everyone on its way - on a
2 kilometers long distance.
Many witnesses acknoledge that the truck driver was looking determined to kill as many people
as possible.
Panic-stricken people began to scream and run.
People fled the scene.
Fireshots were then heard.
The truck driver fired a pistol several times before being shot dead by the Police.
Polce forces later found firearms, explosives and grenades in the truck.
At least 84 persons have been killed, including 10 children.
18 persons are fighting for their lives in hospital.
Some 50 children were admitted in local hospitals for treatment following the attack.
Horrorendous, just horrendous indeed.
Now, what is the French government's take on this attack?
Has anyone or any group claimed responsibility?
French President Francois Hollande addressed the nation in the very early morning hours
this Friday.
Hollande called it an undeniable attack of terror.
Take a listen.
"France is afflicted by this new tragedy.
It is horrified by what just happened.
This monstrosity that consists of using a truck to kill, deliberately kill, dozens of
people who were simply there to celebrate July 14th . France is mourning, it is afflicted,
but it is strong, and it will always be stronger, I assure you, than the fanatics who want to
strike it today."
Paris last November would be extended for another three months.
He then recommended that the existing state of emergency, put in place in the wake of
the Paris attacks in November 2015 and due to expire later this month, should be extended
for three further months.
The Council of Defense started meeting this morning soon after 9 am French time and we
are now waiting for the outcome of the meeting.
A three day long mourning period has also been declared by the Prime minister, until
July 18th.
As far as the investigation is concerned : The lorry driver was as 31-year-old from Nice
who was born in Tunisia He was known to the police for violence, and
using weapons, but had no direct links with terrorism.
But, presumed to be a terror attack, nonetheless.
Nathalie, this is just the latest in a string of deadly attacks the French people have had
to endure in recent months and years.
How is France as a nation coping with this and what do we expect in the next couple
of days?
This attack illustrates how difficult it is to ensure security.
Nice city and the department had actively prepared, since it recently hosted the Carnival
and then was very close to the Cannes Film Festival.
Police forces and been reinforced, sniffing dogs had also been mobilised and Nice is one
of French cities with the largest number of surveillance cameras.
Now still criticism is mounting against the French authorities, saying that they are not
doing enough to prevent such attacks.
A parliamentary commission recently released a report containing 40 new proposals in order
to reinforce anti-terrorism measures.
Its President said the Group was declined a meeting with the French President and Prime
minister and, this morning, says, the Nice attack could have been avoided.
The threat of terrorism becoming more real by the day all across the globe.
Thank you Nathalie.
Nathalie Tourret connecting with us from Paris.