80 dead in terror truck attack in France, Hollande extends emergency for 3 months

Paris, France: A large truck plowed through a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing at least 80 people, according to French authorities, who are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack. Reports started to emerge that a truck had crashed into a crowd in Promenade des Anglais, near Nice’s Palais de la Mediterranee.Revelers said the act appears to have been deliberate.Some witnesses said they heard gunshots and explosions, but there was confusion because fireworks were being set off at the time of the crash.Witnesses described mass panic as hordes of people began to flee in all directions. “It was like the running of the bulls,” said Michael Bordieri, a New Yorker vacationing in Nice.

Some Twitter reports showed photos of a white truck with shattered windscreen purported to be the vehicle that plowed into the crowd.The truck driver was killed by police, according to French officials.The Associated Press and Reuters report that the truck was loaded with weapons and grenades. France has been the target of a recent rash of terrorist assaults.At least 77 people are reported dead in the attack in Nice, according to French officials, and at least 100 are injured.

It is learnt that truck driver(31) was originally from Tunisia.France President Hollande said France will extend state of emergency until October. Hollande ordered 10,000 more troops.

Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India tweeted: Our embassy in Paris has opened helpline +33 – 1 – 40507070. He further tweeted: Our ambassador in Paris is in touch with the Indian community in Nice. So far no report of any Indian affected.