Nice attack of an ‘undeniable terrorist nature’

President Francois Hollande has condemned that attack in France which has left 84 people dead, including children, as having an ‘undeniable terrorist nature’. The attack involved a driver ploughing a lorry through a crowd which was celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, in the south of France. The driver drove for 1.2 miles on the Promenade des Anglais at about 23:00 before being shot dead by police. A number of witnesses reported that lorry appeared to serve from side to side in order to injure more people, with police confirming that guns and grenades were hidden inside the lorry. The state of emergency which has been in place since November’s Paris attacks, carried out by Islamic State militants, has been extended by three months. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has declared three days of national mourning for the victims. ISIL has since claimed responsibility for the attacks. The identity papers of a 31-year-old French-Tunisian were reportedly found in the truck. The driver was named by local media as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel and was known by police for previous petty crimes. Valis commented: “France is a great country and a great democracy that will not allow itself to be destabilised.” Prime Minister Theresa May said she would speak to President Hollande ‘and make clear that the United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with France today as we have done so often in the past.’ May added: “If, as we fear, this was a terrorist attack then we must redouble our efforts to defeat these brutal murderers who want to destroy our way of life."