Terrorist Attack In France Kills 84

As Bastille Day celebrants packed the streets watching fireworks in Nice, France, a large truck broke through barriers and accelerated into the crowd, driving for over a mile until he jumped out of the cab and started shooting. He was killed by police. The death count stands at 75, with over 100 injured.

Authorities are calling this a terrorist attack.

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to 84, with many more in critical condition. Two Americans are among the dead. The killer has been identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. See this.

From Nice, France, truck attack kills 75, official tells French TV – CNN.com:

At least 75 people were killed late Thursday night when a large truck plowed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, according to CNN affiliate BFM-TV, citing Regional President Christian Estrosi.

The driver pointed his tractor-trailer into the crowd and accelerated, mowing bodies over. The driver was shot to death, authorities said. At least 100 people were injured, authorities said.

Here are the latest developments in the tragedy:

• The attack in Nice, France, began when an occupant of the truck shot into the crowd and then drove for 2 kilometers along the pavement of the Boulevard des Anglais, the main street in Nice, regional President Christian Estrosi told CNN affiliate BFM-TV. He said police later found firearms, explosives and grenades in the truck.

• Anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the investigation, according to BFMTV, citing the prosecutor’s office.

• Preliminary information from French officials is that there was one individual in the truck, according to a U.S. law enforcement official briefed on the attack. The individual, a male, was killed by police and it does not appear there was any gunfire from the truck, according to the official.

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Terrorist attack in France kills 84