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Many dead as lorry hits crowd in Nice | Many dead as lorry hits crowd in Nice |
(35 minutes later) | |
A lorry has struck a crowd after Bastille Day celebrations in the southern French city of Nice, killing at least 70 people, officials are quoted as saying by local media. | |
It happened on the famous Promenade des Anglais after a firework display. The driver was "neutralised", and guns and grenades were found inside the lorry. | |
One image on Twitter showed about a dozen people lying on the street. | One image on Twitter showed about a dozen people lying on the street. |
Officials said it was "an attack", asking local residents to stay indoors. | |
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said that "a lorry driver appears to have killed dozens of people". | Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said that "a lorry driver appears to have killed dozens of people". |
Prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said the lorry drove two kilometres (1.2 miles) through a large crowd, the AFP news agency reports. | Prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said the lorry drove two kilometres (1.2 miles) through a large crowd, the AFP news agency reports. |
Live updates | Live updates |
The mayor and police urged residents to stay indoors. | The mayor and police urged residents to stay indoors. |
Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet denied earlier reports of hostage situations and said the driver of the lorry had been "neutralised". | |
He added that officials were investigating whether the driver acted alone. | |
French President Francois Hollande was returning back to Paris for crisis talks in the capital, his office said. Mr Hollande was in the southern city of Avignon on a private visit. | French President Francois Hollande was returning back to Paris for crisis talks in the capital, his office said. Mr Hollande was in the southern city of Avignon on a private visit. |
Some reports spoke of shots being exchanged between police and the occupants of the lorry but these have not been confirmed. | Some reports spoke of shots being exchanged between police and the occupants of the lorry but these have not been confirmed. |
Social media video showed people running through the streets in panic following the incident. | Social media video showed people running through the streets in panic following the incident. |
A journalist with the Nice Matin newspaper reported from the scene that there was "a lot of blood and without doubt many injured". | A journalist with the Nice Matin newspaper reported from the scene that there was "a lot of blood and without doubt many injured". |
An AFP reporter said the incident took place as the firework display was ending, adding: "We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around." | An AFP reporter said the incident took place as the firework display was ending, adding: "We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around." |
Another image on Twitter showed a white lorry stopped in the middle of the promenade with damage to its front, and four police officers observing it while taking cover behind a palm tree. | Another image on Twitter showed a white lorry stopped in the middle of the promenade with damage to its front, and four police officers observing it while taking cover behind a palm tree. |
One eyewitness told BFM TV: "Everyone was calling run, run, run there's an attack run, run, run. We heard some shots. We thought they were fireworks because it's the 14th of July. | One eyewitness told BFM TV: "Everyone was calling run, run, run there's an attack run, run, run. We heard some shots. We thought they were fireworks because it's the 14th of July. |
"There was great panic. We were running too because we didn't want to stick around and we went into a hotel to get to safety. " | "There was great panic. We were running too because we didn't want to stick around and we went into a hotel to get to safety. " |
Another witness, Roy Calley told the BBC that there were "thousands of people on the promenade" when the incident happened. | Another witness, Roy Calley told the BBC that there were "thousands of people on the promenade" when the incident happened. |
US President Barack Obama had been briefed about the situation in Nice "and his national security team will update him, as appropriate", National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. | US President Barack Obama had been briefed about the situation in Nice "and his national security team will update him, as appropriate", National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. |
Are you in Nice? Did you see what took place on Promenade des Anglais? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Nice? Did you see what took place on Promenade des Anglais? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |