75 dead’ after truck crashes into crowd at Bastille Day celebrations in Nice ‘terror attack’

More on the story posted by Rebecca below. Live updates from The Telegraph here. 

 A truck has crashed into a crowd of revelers celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice

Reports on French tv that the driver of the truck was shot dead by police. . .  up to 30 people have been killed.

BFM TV reported “dozens of dead” in Nice. “It’s total panic,” a witness told the channel by telephone. “We saw a white lorry which drove directly into people on the Promenade des Anglais. A gunman fired into the crowd before being shot by police. Perhaps they are dead, I’m not sure.”

Bodies could be seen lying on the floor by the beach, as the police and other emergency services tried to deal with a mass panic. 

Fireworks were filling the night sky as the drama unfolded, as the crowds enjoyed July 14th, which is always a Bank Holiday in France.  

“It is absolute chaos,” said an eye witness who works in the Nice judiciary. “There are reports of dozens of people killed, and many more injured. Bodies are lying everywhere. Police are flooding the streets, including anti-terrorism officers.  Nobody knows what to do, except to hide away. Gunmen are meant to be targeting hotels.” 

The lorry was seen mounting the pavement and piling into anyone the driver could see, ramming over those who tried to run away.

The area around the Promenade is full of hotels and restaurants, which that were all packed at the height of the holiday season. 

Nice mayor Christian Estrosi, who was at the celebration when it happened, tweeted: “Dear people of Nice, the driver of a truck seems to have left dozens dead. Stay for now in your home. More info to come.”