—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Nice attack: Foreign Office ‘standing by’ to help Britons

July 15, 2016

The UK Foreign Office is “standing by” to help Britons in the French city of Nice, after a lorry crashed into a crowd killing at least 84 people. The lorry driver was shot dead, and President Francois Hollande said the incident was of a “terrorist nature”. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said at least one UK national was among those injured in the attack. Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was being kept up to date on “this terrible incident”. A spokesman said Number 10 was “shocked and concerned” by the attack, which happened during Bastille Day celebrations in the capital of the French Riviera. A French flag is being flown above Number 10.

A number of Britons in Nice have described “horrendous” scenes as the lorry ploughed into the crowd. The Foreign Office advised those in the area to contact friends and family to let them know they are safe. The British Embassy has opened a crisis centre with a 24 hour number: 0033 1 4451 3100. British Ambassador to France Julian King said he was on his way to Nice to join a team assisting British nationals. Speaking outside his home, Mr Johnson said one UK national had been confirmed among the injured, but it was “early to say” how many other Britons may be affected. Cabinet ministers would meet later to discuss “the implications for this country if any”, he said. He said his thoughts were with the people of France and Nice, adding the attack was an “appalling incident”. “If this is a terrorist incident as it appears to be, this represents a continuing threat to us and the whole of Europe and we must meet it together.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would be reviewing the English capital’s safety measures in light of the attack.

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = BBC News

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Truck Attack Kills 80 Amidst Bastille Day Celebrations in Nice, France in State of Renewed Emergency

July 15, 2016

The Latest: Estonia Reports 2 of Its People Injured in Nice

July 15, 2016

The Latest on attack that killed 84 people in Nice (all times local):

11:40 a.m.

Estonia’s Foreign Ministry says two Estonian nationals were injured in the Nice attack and it is trying to reach other Estonians believed to be in the area. It did not identify the injured or give further details. Meanwhile, Estonian state-owned airline Nordica says it’s offering passengers with tickets to Nice for July to change their flight plans. Nordica CEO Jaan Tamm says customers who have flown to Nice will be allowed to return on earlier return flights if seats are available. Passengers booked to fly to Nice this month will be allowed to change the time of their departure or change the destination to the Croatian cities of Split or Rijeka, or Odessa in Ukraine until the end of the summer season free of charge. Two Estonian mobile operators said they would allow clients to make free mobile calls from France and receive calls there free of charge for the next two days.

———

11:35 a.m.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says London will review its security procedures because of the attack in Nice. The mayor said he wants to reassure all London residents that the Metropolitan Police will do “everything possible” to keep the British capital safe. He said the extremists’ “poisonous and twisted ideology” will be defeated in France, London and other parts of the world. The terror threat in Britain is judged to be “severe,” meaning that an attack is highly likely.

———

11:15 a.m.

Belgium’s prime minister says next week’s national holiday celebrations will go ahead, but with additional security measures. Charles Michel spoke to journalists following a morning meeting of the Belgian’s government’s Security Council following the lethal truck attack in Nice, France. Michel says Belgian authorities had already considered the possibility of a terrorist using a vehicle to attack a crowd. He says additional “appropriate measures,” which he did not specify, will now be taken to safeguard events scheduled to mark National Day on July 21. OCAM, an independent body that assesses the risk of an extremist attack in Belgium, is maintaining the threat level at 3 on a 4-point scale, Michel said. For the level to be raised to the maximum, he says, there must be “concrete and precise” information about an imminent attack, which he said there was none at present.

———

11:05 a.m.

German police say they’re stepping up border checks on the French frontier following the attack in Nice. Federal police said Thursday that they had increased checks at land borders and railway crossings with France, and at airports. They would not give further details, but said the move was made in consultation with France.

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = ABC News

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Pranab condemns terrorist attack in France

July 15, 2016

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in France and said India stands shoulder to shoulder with the French government and its people in fighting terrorism.

“I am shocked to hear about the terrorist attack on an innocent crowd of people gathered to celebrate the Bastille Day in Nice, France,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

He said India will strengthen cooperation with France and other countries in the fight against terrorism. “India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people and government of France as it responds to this attack. “We will strengthen our cooperation with France and other countries in the fight against terrorism,” Mr. Mukherjee said in a series of tweets. The President, who is in Darjeeling on an official visit, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured.

Copyright © = The Hindu

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Obama condemns “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack” in Nice, France

July 14, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House released a statement from President Obama on Twitter Thursday evening condemning “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France.” At least 75 people were killed and dozens of others hurt when a truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France local officials said Thursday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded,” the statement from Mr. Obama read. U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch also released a statement on the attack in Nice, France. “I join the President in condemning what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France,” she said.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost and wounded. The Department of Justice has reached out to our French counterparts to offer our assistance in the investigation.” Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in Moscow for meetings with Russian leaders, said the U.S. Embassy in Paris “is making every effort to account for the welfare of U.S. citizens in Nice.” He urged Americans visiting Nice to contact friends and family directly. French network BFM TV said the victims were gathered to watch fireworks along the famed Promenade des Anglais on the Nice waterfront Thursday night. Sylvie Toffin, a press officer with the local prefecture, said the truck “hit several people on a long trip” down the sidewalk near Nice’s Palais de la Méditerranee, a building which fronts the beach.

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = CBS News

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

France on Top Alert After 7th Terror Attack in Eighteen Months

July 15, 2016

France has been on maximum security alert for most of the past 18 months, hit by multiple terrorist attacks that have left nearly 230 people dead and hundreds injured. President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency after the assault on Paris last November, the deadliest in France’s modern history. That gives security and legal forces extra rights to conduct investigations and arrest suspects. Hollande said early Friday the order — which was due to end on July 26 — will be extended for another three months after the attack late Thursday in Nice. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said in parliament that security services have foiled several attacks since January 2015, when two brothers killed 11 journalists in the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper based in Paris. Here is a brief timeline of the recent attacks on France:

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = Bloomberg

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Nice attack: What we know so far after lorry drives into crowd on Bastille Day in France

July 15, 2016

Dozens are dead after a lorry drove into crowds celebrating France’s national day in Nice. President Francois Hollande has condemned the attack as a “monstrosity” and said the “terrorist character” of the attack is undeniable. “All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorists,” he said.

Here’s what we know so far:

• At least 84 people have been killed after a lorry ploughed into crowds gathered for Bastille Day fireworks on the Promenade des Anglais at around 11pm local time.
• Hundreds remain in hospital, including 14 who are in intensive care.
• The attacker, thought to be a 31-year-old Tunisian-born Frenchman, was know to police but not for terrorism offences.
• Police killed the driver after gunfire was exchanged.
• Regional president Christian Estrosi said the lorry was packed with grenades as well as guns.
• There are reports the 25-tonne truck was travelling at about 50km/h when it hit the people gathered. People ran into the sea to try to escape, AP reports.
• Witnesses say the driver was “zigzagging”, maximising casualties, as he drove for 2km (1.2 miles) through the crowds.
• Parents threw their children over fences to get them out of the path of the lorry, witnesses said. Many children are undergoing serious operations following the attack.
• A person jumped onto the truck to try to stop it, Eric Ciotta told Europe 1 radio. “It’s at that moment the police were able to neutralise this terrorist,” he said. Mr Ciotti added it was a policewoman who intercepted the driver.
• No group has yet said they are responsible for the mass killings.
• France has declared three days of national mourning.

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = The Independent

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

Boris Johnson: Our thoughts are with people of Nice, France

July 15, 2016

New Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says “our thoughts are very much with the people of France and Nice” after this “absolutely appalling incident” which involved a truck driving into a crowd of people during Bastille Day celebrations. Mr Johnson, whose first engagement as Britain’s new foreign secretary was at the French ambassador’s Bastille Day party in London, said on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice, and the terrible loss of life.” A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is being kept updated on reports coming in from Nice. “We are shocked and concerned by the scenes there. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration.

Visit source for more on this story

SOURCE = The Telegraph

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-

France truck attacker formally identified: police source

July 15, 2016

NICE, France – The driver of the truck that smashed into a crowd of revellers in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84, has been formally identified, police sources said Friday. He is a 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian man whose identity papers were found in the vehicle after the attack on a crowd that had been enjoying a fireworks display on France’s July 14 national holiday.- AFP

Copyright © = Agence France-Presse

—————————————————————————-

—————————————————————————-