A deadly terrorist attack occurred last night in Nice, France. The death toll has reached at least 84 people, including 10 children.
FoxNews.com reports that a truck drove at high speed into the crowd gathered to watch fireworks and celebrate Bastille Day, a French national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
The driver of the truck has been identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a Tunisian national living in France. Although sources have not yet confirmed whether Bouhlel was acting alone or was affiliated with a terrorist organization, sources did report that, after the attack, ISIS-affiliated accounts were “celebratory.”
As the truck drove at high speeds through the crowd gathered on the seaside promenade, eyewitnesses reported that people went down “like bowling pins.”
Damien Alleman, a journalist for Nice-Matin, recalled the horrific event: "A fraction of a second later, an enormous white truck came along at a crazy speed, turning the wheel to mow down the maximum number of people. I saw bodies flying like bowling pins along its route. Heard noises, cries that I will never forget."
Among the 84 casualties were at least 10 children. Two Americans also lost their lives in the attack. Sean Copeland and his 11-year-old son, Brodie, from Austin, Texas were in Nice with other family members when the attack occurred. Both Sean and Brodie were killed.
Police reportedly succeeded in shooting and killing Bouhlel after he had made a mile-long path of devastation.
French President Francois Hollande has extended France’s state of emergency and said the country will remain on highest alert.
"Such a monstrosity," Hollande said, referring to the attack. "France is deeply saddened, but it is also very strong. I can assure you we will always be stronger than the fanatics who are trying to attack us."
France suffered another terrorist attack last November when terrorists killed over 120 people and wounded dozens of others in Paris.
Publication date: July 15, 2016
