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'Bodies were flying': Australians describe horrific scenes in Nice truck attack 'Bodies were flying': Australians describe horrific scenes in Nice truck attack
(35 minutes later)
An Australian is reported to have been injured in an apparent truck attack in the French Riviera city of Nice, and several other Australians who witnessed the scenes there have described what they saw. Three Australians were injured in the truck attack that killed at least 80 people in the French Riviera city of Nice, and several others have described the scenes of the carnage that followed.
The injured Australian tourist is believed to have been travelling with tour group Topdeck at the time, Channel Nine reports. The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said on Friday afternoon that the three Australians had suffered minor injuries while fleeing the mayhem after the truck mowed down scores of people celebrating Bastille Day.
The tour company said the injuries were minor, and their other customers had been accounted for. The family of the injured person had been informed, it told AAP.
Related: Bastille Day truck attack: French president denounces 'monstrous' killing of 80 people – live updatesRelated: Bastille Day truck attack: French president denounces 'monstrous' killing of 80 people – live updates
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has asked anyone concerned about people in Nice to first try to contact them directly. If that fails, they can then call their 24-hour consular emergency centre on 1300 555 135 or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas. Tori Anderson, an Australian visiting Nice, gave a harrowing account of what she saw to Channel Nine.
Worried about family and friends in France? #Nice #BastilleDay pic.twitter.com/bJosVux1qG She said she had been in a tour bus and had seen the parade. “We stopped our bus and thought we’d just hop out and walk the rest of our way to our hotel along the promenade and kind of join in on all the fun,” she said.
Several other reports of Australians who witnessed the attack have emerged. “And basically we were walking for about five minutes … And then suddenly you could hear screaming … And I turned around and behind me was this big truck. My friend and I just looked to the side and the bodies directly beside us got pulled under the truck. Bodies were flying left right and centre.
Tori Anderson gave a harrowing account of what she saw to Channel Nine. “As soon as we started running, all we could hear was gunshots. The only thing we could really do was jump off the promenade and land on the rocks down below. There was a couple of hundred people pushing everyone off the edge of the promenade. Everyone was landing on rocks. There were people – their bodies were tangled everywhere. We landed on rocks and ran for our lives.
She said she was in a tour bus and saw the parade. “All we could hear was gunfire. This man was swerving all across the road, with a gun out the window just shooting anything and running anything down on the road that he could.”
“We stopped our bus and thought we’d just hop out and walk the rest of our way to our hotel along the promenade and kind of join in on all the fun,” she said.
“And basically we were walking for about five minutes … And then suddenly you could hear screaming … And I turned around and behind me was this big tuck. My friend and I just looked to the side and the bodies directly beside us got pulled under the truck. Bodies were flying left right and centre.
“As soon as we started running, all we could hear was gunshots. The only thing we could really do was jump off the promenade and land on the rocks down below. There was a couple of hundred people pushing everyone off the edge promenade. Everyone was landing on rocks. There were people – their bodies were tangled everywhere. We landed on rocks and ran for our lives.
“All we could hear was gunfiring. This man was swerving all across the road, with a gun out the window just shooting anything and running anything down on the road that he could.”
On the phone is Tori Anderson, one of many Australian’s caught up in horror attack in Nice. #9News https://t.co/Xs57rbkbJPOn the phone is Tori Anderson, one of many Australian’s caught up in horror attack in Nice. #9News https://t.co/Xs57rbkbJP
Sydneysider Marcus Freeman said he and his wife were in “lockdown” and safe at their hotel in Nice. A Sydneysider, Marcus Freeman, said he and his wife were in “lockdown” and safe at their hotel in Nice.
“We were 15 metres from our hotel when we heard what sounded like gunshots and people fleeing everywhere,” he posted on Facebook.“We were 15 metres from our hotel when we heard what sounded like gunshots and people fleeing everywhere,” he posted on Facebook.
“We raced into our hotel ... waited for lift (longest wait of my life) ... then I steered around 10 people up with us. “We raced into our hotel ... waited for lift (longest wait of my life) ... then I steered around 10 people up with us. Scary times ... it was all just panic.”
“Scary times ... it was all just panic.”
Related: Bastille Day truck attack: what we know so farRelated: Bastille Day truck attack: what we know so far
Sophie Sanderlands was on holiday in France, and described to Channel Seven the scenes she saw, with thousands of people running from the scene. Sophie Sanderlands, on holiday in France, described to Channel Seven how thousands of people ran from the scene.
“We were down on the beachfront enjoying the fireworks that they put on for the celebrations ... There was live music, people everywhere, a really happy mood. Nothing was out of place. And then all of a sudden thousands of people started running towards us screaming, crying, absolutely out of control. We had no choice but to start running with them. “We were down on the beachfront enjoying the fireworks that they put on for the celebrations ... There was live music, people everywhere, a really happy mood. Nothing was out of place.
“And then all of a sudden thousands of people started running towards us screaming, crying, absolutely out of control. We had no choice but to start running with them.
“There were strollers on the ground, people crammed into restaurants. People trying to get into restaurants but being shut out because there was no room left.”“There were strollers on the ground, people crammed into restaurants. People trying to get into restaurants but being shut out because there was no room left.”
Sophie Sanderlands is on holiday in France and has described the moment she saw thousands of people sprinting #sun7 https://t.co/bmUF3hpdbvSophie Sanderlands is on holiday in France and has described the moment she saw thousands of people sprinting #sun7 https://t.co/bmUF3hpdbv
Two people from Melbourne told Channel Nine they pulled their children to the ground when they heard the gunshots outside their apartment in Nice. A couple from Melbourne told Channel Nine they heard the gunshots outside their apartment in Nice.
The couple and their two daughters, aged five and seven, were reportedly staying in an apartment above the famous Promenade des Anglais, where the attack occurred. Danae and Sasha Goldsmith and their two daughters, aged five and seven, were staying in an apartment above the Promenade des Anglais. Danae told Channel Nine they had heard the music suddenly stop and looked down at the street from their balcony to see hundreds of people running.
She told Channel Nine they heard the music suddenly stop, and looked down at the street from their balcony to see hundreds of people running. “There was a whole lot of noise and then I thought, ‘Why is the truck there?’ – it was just coming through the crowd,” she told Nine News.
“There was a whole lot of noise and then I thought ‘why is the truck there’– it was just coming through the crowd,” Goldsmith told 9News. “I thought, ‘Shit, everyone’s running,’ so we grabbed the kids and got down and then the gunshots all happened.”
“I thought ‘shit everyone’s running’ so we grabbed the kids and got down and then the gun shots all happened.”
Melbourne parents describe pulling children to the ground after shots fired at Nice: https://t.co/DjixZ66cp9 #9News pic.twitter.com/r0URIWh1QYMelbourne parents describe pulling children to the ground after shots fired at Nice: https://t.co/DjixZ66cp9 #9News pic.twitter.com/r0URIWh1QY
The Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said he had spoken to the governor-general, Peter Cosgrove, who is in Paris representing Australia at the Bastille Day celebrations. He said he had been assured of Cosgrove’s safety and also spoke to Australia’s ambassador, Stephen Brady, and the New Zealand prime minister, John Key. One injured Australian tourist was believed to have been travelling with the tour group Topdeck at the time, Channel Nine reported.
The tour company said the injuries were minor, and its customers had been accounted for.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said anyone concerned about people in Nice should first try to contact them directly. If that failed, they should call the 24-hour consular emergency centre on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas.
Worried about family and friends in France? #Nice #BastilleDay pic.twitter.com/bJosVux1qG
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said he had spoken to the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, who is in Paris representing Australia at the Bastille Day celebrations and next week’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first world war battle of Fromelles. Turnbull said he had been assured of Cosgrove’s safety and had also spoken to Australia’s ambassador, Stephen Brady, and the New Zealand prime minister, John Key.
We mourn for the victims of another murderous act of terror in France overnight, on Bastille Day https://t.co/BZ18IJJaKbWe mourn for the victims of another murderous act of terror in France overnight, on Bastille Day https://t.co/BZ18IJJaKb
“Our deepest sympathy and condolences are with the people of France,” Turnbull said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathy and condolences are with the people of France,” Turnbull said. “Our nations are united in freedom’s cause today just as we were one hundred years ago.”
“Our nations are united in freedom’s cause today just as we were one hundred years ago.” Bishop released a statement condemning the attack.
The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, used Twitter to release a statement condemning the attack.
Aus Gov condemns Bastille Day attack in Nice. Thoughts with victims, their families and people of France https://t.co/bAAGdFgP3yAus Gov condemns Bastille Day attack in Nice. Thoughts with victims, their families and people of France https://t.co/bAAGdFgP3y
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, described the attack on social media as another tragedy inflicted on innocent people.The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, described the attack on social media as another tragedy inflicted on innocent people.
He said the scenes in the French Riviera city on Bastille Day were “awful” and Australia stood with its friends in France. He said the scenes in the French Riviera city were “awful” and Australia stood with its friends in France.
Awful scenes in Nice. Another tragedy inflicted on innocent people. Australia stands with our friends in France.Awful scenes in Nice. Another tragedy inflicted on innocent people. Australia stands with our friends in France.
His deputy and the party’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said their thoughts were with the loved ones of those who had died or were injured. His deputy and the party’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said Australia’s thoughts were with the loved ones of those who had died or were injured.
Shocking reports coming out of Nice. We stand w/ the people of France. Our thoughts are w/ the loved ones of those who’ve died + the injuredShocking reports coming out of Nice. We stand w/ the people of France. Our thoughts are w/ the loved ones of those who’ve died + the injured
People around the country have also been sending messages of solidarity to the French, including stall-owners at the Bastille Day markets in Sydney. People around the country have also been sending messages of solidarity to the French, including stall owners at the Bastille Day markets in Sydney.
@triplejHack @abcnews French solidarity at Sydney #BastilleDay markets. #PrayForNice pic.twitter.com/T4taCuOQAB@triplejHack @abcnews French solidarity at Sydney #BastilleDay markets. #PrayForNice pic.twitter.com/T4taCuOQAB