The mayor of the French city of Nice said on Thursday that dozens may be dead after a van rammed into a crowd of revelers celebrating Bastille Day.
“The driver of a van appears to have killed dozens. Stay in your homes for now. More info to follow,” said Mayor Christian Estrosi in a tweet.
“This is the worst tragedy in the History of Nice, with more than 70 victims already reported,” the mayor added.
The mayor told BMFTV that the truck was filled firearms and grenades.
Sebastien Humbert, the sub-prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes region, told the French television channel that the “truck rammed into the crowd over a long distance, which explains this extremely heavy toll.”
BFMTV reported that at least 73 people have been killed in the attack, citing police sources. Prosecutors confirmed the death toll.
An interior ministry spokesman said there appears to be no signs of a hostage situation.
The French television channel also reported that the driver has been shot dead, citing a local official.
Witnesses also described hearing gunfire. However, authorities have yet to confirm the reports of weapons being used in the apparent attack.
Crisis meeting
French President Francois Hollande has returned to Paris, where he will hold an emergency meeting at the interior ministry’s crisis center to assess the situation.
The attack comes as Hollande said on Thursday that France’s state of emergency would not be extended beyond July 26.
He activated the security measure the evening of November 13, when “Islamic State”-affiliated militants launched several attacks across the capital Paris, leaving 130 people dead.
