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THE EVENING OF 14 July 2016 should have ended with a joyous display of fireworks to celebrate Bastille Day in the southern France seaside resort of Nice.
Instead, at 10.30pm, the happy cheers of the crowd gathered on the Promenade des Anglais turned to screams of terror as a truck drove through them, killing at least 84 people, several of them children allowed to stay up for the festivities.
The following liveblog chronicles how the horror unfolded that night and over the early hours of the following morning.
Good evening. Here’s what we know so far about tonight’s incident in Nice:
- At least 30 people are feared dead after a large truck ploughed into a crowd during Bastille Day celebrations in Nice at around this evening.
- Around 100 people are believed to have been injured.
- The mayor of Nice has called on people in the area to stay in their homes
- The motive behind the attack is not yet known. Police have initially called it a “terrorist” attack while another senior official called it a “criminal attack on a massive scale”
There is as yet no confirmation on the exact number of people who have been killed or injured in the attack.
First estimates have put the number at 30 but the one French journalist is now quoting the public’s prosecutor’s office as saying that closer to 60 people have died.
The attack prompted scenes of chaos along the popular tourist promenade.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said they have no specific details as yet about whether any Irish citizens have been caught up in the attack.
Anyone who may need to contact the French embassy here are the details:
Facebook has also activated its safety check procedure for people in the area to let friends and relatives know they are safe.
French President Francois Hollande is heading back to Paris early Friday for crisis talks after the “major criminal attack”.
“He is coming back to Paris and will go directly to Place Beauvau to the crisis cell,” the presidency said.
Hollande had been in the southern city of Avignon on a private visit.
The French Interior Ministry has said that the individual who drove the truck has been ‘neutralised’ and that an investigation will determine if he acted alone.
The White House has that President Barack Obama had been briefed on the attack in Nice that French authorities say has killed at least 60 people.
“The President has been apprised of the situation in Nice, France, and his national security team will update him, as appropriate,” said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.
Witnesses described hearing gunfire following the incident with local authorities saying that driver of the truck was shot dead by police.
Images on social media have showed casualties lying in the street, some being tended by paramedics.
The incident comes as France remains badly shaken by November 2015 attacks which killed 130 people at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris and nightspots across the city.
The Mayor of Nice has also now confirmed that at least 70 people have been killed.
An eyewitness – a British holidaymaker – in Nice tells Sky News that she remarked to companion that fireworks sounded ‘like Beirut’.
She then realised it was gunfire, and not Bastille Day celebrations.
The latest editions of tomorrow morning’s newspapers are no longer about Theresa May but these horrific events in France.
French newspaper Nice-Martin is now reporting that weapons were found in the truck that was used to kill the people out celebrating Bastille Day.
Donald Trump has cancelled tomorrow’s planned announcement of his running mate.
People are using the hashtag #PortesOuvertesNice to advertise safe refuges in the city.
It’s now been confirmed by the Mayor of Nice that weapons were found on board the truck used in the attack. Both arms and grenades.
A number of eyewitnesses have been describing the chaotic scenes as the truck mowed down people along the promenade.
An AFP reporter has described having to shield his face from the flying debris as he watched the truck plough at ‘full-speed’ into a crowd.
“It was absolute chaos,” said the correspondent, who was among the crowd gathered to watch the fireworks for France’s national day on the beachfront Promenade des Anglais.
We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around I had to protect my face from flying debris.
The correspondent described the moment that the large white truck plunged into crowds of people who had come to the bustling Mediterranean beachfront to celebrate.
Terrified people screamed and scattered as it veered down the promenade, where adults and children were walking towards the famous Negresco Hotel.
Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said the truck drove 2km through the crowd, mowing people down in what one local official has called a “major criminal attack”.
“For a big truck like that to get actually onto the promenade and then to go in a fairly straight line along there, looked to me like a very deliberate act,” the reporter said.
It was about 100 metres from me and I had a few seconds to get out of the way.
Other witnesses described hearing gunfire, although this was not immediately confirmed by the authorities.
Police could be seen surrounding the truck in the early hours of Friday, its windscreen riddled with bullet holes.
Australian Emily Watkins said she was less than 50 metres away from the incident and saw the truck on the promenade but did not realise what was happening.
“There was a lot of confusion. I don’t actually remember seeing the truck moving,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
There was a lot of screams coming from ahead of us where the truck was, and people just running towards us and without really knowing what was going on we turned and ran as well. As we were running away we could hear what I thought at the time were more flares or fireworks.
“People were tripping over and trying to get into hotel lobbies and restaurants or car parks or anywhere they could to get away from the street. “
A couple of important updates in the past few minutes:
French officials are now firmly rejecting earlier rumours that there was a hostage element to the attack.
“There is no hostage-taking,” interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told AFP, denying dozens of rumours following the incident.
An individual drove a truck into the crowd. He was killed by police. Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled.
Statement from Minister Charlie Flanagan on the events in Nice:
This evening’s terrible events in Nice have left me deeply shocked and saddened. I deplore the loss of life, and offer heartfelt condolences to the people of France from the people of Ireland.
This attack on people as they celebrated Bastille Day with friends and family on a fine summer’s evening is particularly horrendous, and my thoughts and sympathies are with the relatives of the dead and injured.
My department is monitoring the situation closely, and our Ambassador in France Geraldine Byrne Nason and her staff are seeking to establish whether any Irish citizens have been caught up in this evening’s tragic events. Our Embassy in Paris is on stand-by to offer assistance to any Irish people affected by these events and the staff of the Embassy are on duty and monitoring the situation closely.
Irish citizens in Nice who need to contact the Embassy can do so at 0144176700, and are advised to exercise caution and follow instructions of local authorities. Consular staff in my Department are also on hand to take calls from concerned families here in Ireland and they may be contacted at any time at 01 408 2000.
The front page of tomorrow’s Le Parisien.
Local authorities have now put the death toll at 75, with 50 injured.
US President Barack Obama:
On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world.
Tourists staying along the Promenade des Anglais cannot return to hotels and TheJournal.ie has learned that some Irish visitors are being put up tonight by local people.
They have opened up their homes to complete strangers at this time of crisis.
Nearby hotels have been transformed into field hospitals to treat the injured and to take in the remains of the deceased.
The death toll keeps climbing with the president of the region now putting the number of people who have lost their lives at 77.
This is the scene in upmarket hotel Negresco which has been turned into a field hospital.
To recap, here’s what you need to know about the last few sad and tragic hours.
Emergency services continue to tend to victims in the area with many hotels being used as hospitals.
Le Figaro, the French publication, has now put the death toll at 80.
Initial reporting as of 10.45pm, 14 July 2016
‘DOZENS’ OF PEOPLE and have died and about 100 people have been injured after a truck ploughed into a crowd in Nice.
The crowd had been celebrating Bastille Day in the French riviera city with local officials describing it as ”a criminal attack on a massive scale”.
Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has tweeted that ‘dozens’ have been killed, urging people to ‘stay in their homes’
Speaking to BFMTV in France Sebastien Humbert, an official from the Alpes-Maritimes region has also confirmed “dozens of deaths, perhaps 30″. He also said that there are ”around a hundred injured”.
Humbert has also confirmed that the driver of the truck has been shot dead by police. Pictures of the truck show the windscreen covered with bullet holes that are believed to have been made by police firing.
The incident happened during a fireworks display, sparking panic among the crowd.
Police and ambulances went to the scene and authorities from the local Alpes-Maritimes prefecture urged residents to stay indoors.
An AFP reporter described seeing a white van driving at high speed onto the famed Promenade des Anglais as people were leaving after the annual Bastille Day celebration display.
“We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around,” he said.
One witness told Nice Matin newspaper:
We had just crossed the road, and there were lots of people. When we turned around we heard “boom boom boom” and saw a truck on the promenade, which was going past. My son was right next to it… The truck went by very fast, 45-50 kmh, I saw it travelling to the back [of the crowd], and I don’t know what happened after that.
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Pay for them yes, but then follow up by charging full whack to its customers.
@iohanx: not exactly realistic but nice thoughts
@iohanx: well said, especially since they seem to have no problem sending debt collectors after cancer survivors
@iohanx: how about the Vintners association pay for it… With the extortionate prices some charge its only fair.
@Ian Breathnach:
That’s unlikely to reduce the prices
@Ronan McDermott: why is it not realistic to expect drunks who are a nuisance to the public and a potential danger to themselves and others to pay for their own sobriety treatment, ? this is exactly what happens in Poland and other countries
@Patrick James Walsh: how do you expect them to enforce it ? How do you expect them to prove who the drunk people are ? And confirm their address ? What if they don’t pay ? What if they’re homeless? How do they collect if they can’t prove an address ? Should an already ridiculous legal system waste more time over monies they’ll probably never see? Who will run the drunk tanks? Who will supervise ? Nurses ? Yes like we have loads of nurses to just ask to deal with drunk people instead of sick people . Maybe if you think this exercise is doable you should volunteer your time to deal with the drunk people in there . And don’t forget to use the proper disinfectant when mopping the puke up.
@iohanx: By same sentiment, should we charge smokers full whack for their cancer treatment?
@Ronan McDermott: @Ronan McDermott: most people would have a credit or debit card on their person. This could be used as a deposit like they do in hotels. Send a bill to the address given, if it’s not paid then charge the card. It’s not going to cover every scenario, obviously.
@iohanx: Or we could fund our health service properly like the UK and then people wouldn’t be on here so much demanding that citizens pay for it…… this is exactly what they want you to think so they don’t have to do a better job! We’re paying for it through tax over and over,…. yet still need health insurance and cancer patients are being hounded by debt collectors. Wake up!!!
@James Wallace: ah come on. I don’t think thd author of this article actually knows what a drunk tank is. A drunk tank is where police pick up drunk people and drop them off at the “drunk tank”. That way nobody else has to deal with them. Nobody checks themselves into a drunk tank. Nobody should expect a drunk tank user to pay for it.
@iohanx: Yes those with means
Think if you end up in need of assistance because of alcohol there should be an automatic fine of €250.
@The number 78: Automatic fine here in Melbourne is $590 no arguments
@The number 78: there is already a system on place that if you end up getting arrested for just being drunk, to a point that you are a danger to yourself or other members of public there is a €100 fine as opposed to court. Obviously if you are aggressive/fighting that’s a different story and court could follow.
‘Enjoy A&E responsibly’.
106 voted No (so far) and the only comments are in support of them. So why the No votes lads?
I think the idea of charging for the service is a good one. And put the money back into the hospitals.
@Michael O’Neill: exactly… Where is the NO voters comments? As it stand the current system is costing the tax payer much more than a drunk take will. As a paramedic working in Dublin it’s very disheartening to know that vital services (999 operators, ambulance, Garda, nurses, doctors ect) are being clogged up by drunk idiots with no other alternative… I’m all for the drunk tank
@Danny Dorney: the two boys mad for an argument on the journal
@Barry Zuckerkorn: No. Just wondering why people are voting no. It’s not mad for an argument. Is it unreasonable to ask why people think it’s a bad idea or do you prefer the head in sand approach?
@Michael O’Neill: you misunderstand the concept of the drunk tank. There’s several elements to it such as the drunk person knowing they’re going there and not caring as they know they’ll be out in the morning therefore not kicking off on law enforcement while being brought there. Not meaning to be smart but everyone thinks they know everything about everything. Nothing is ever plain cut
@Ronan McDermott: The article talks about people going to A&E. Maybe I misunderstand why people would go to the A&E when drunk.
As to not meaning to be smart, don’t worry about it, didn’t get that impression at all.
@Danny Dorney: put them in the drunk tank and charge them an exit fee to cover costs.
@Michael O’Neill: Yes to Drunk tanks but also a sustainable fine say €300.
If you’re stupid enough to get that pi€€ed, then you should face the consequences.
Brought into hospital for drink related injury or harm should come with a €1k fine.
Might see a major change in abuse,
@Trevor Hayden:
From € 250 to €590 to €1,000 in three posts,
inflation is rough around here.
@Patrick Nolan: Imagine charging someone a grand the week of Christmas for having a few drinks too many. The government make enough off the tax of alcohol, that should cover it fine.
@Padraig Bateman:
You misunderstood my sentiments, I don’t think €1,000 is high enough…
@Trevor Hayden: bit dramatic innit
@Jordan Osullivan: Unless it’s an innocent person by a drunk moron, no i don’t think so.
People would be more likely to show some restraint rather than face that penalty.
@Patrick Nolan: The price of oil doesn’t go up that fast!!!
@Patrick Nolan: By same sentiment, would you charge smokers full whack for their cancer treatment?
@Trevor Hayden: no ADS or TV SHOW the truth about alkohol
If you can’t hold your drink don’t drink
Public intoxication is already an offence. So is serving a drunk person in a bar. All authority’s, not just the Garda, need to start taking responsibility for this and start enforcing the law.
@Darragh Tomás Mac Amhlaoibh: Do we use the same limit as Driving to determine who’s drunk in a bar?
@Darragh Tomás Mac Amhlaoibh: Jesus Christ do you people think we’re all monks
@samstheman: if bar staff cant tell when someone is drunk -they should not be working as bar staff !! i have seen it for myself on many occasions -people so drunk they cant stand – seen them fall off bar stools almost comatose -and what do their ‘mates’ do ? “give him another shot / pint / whatever ” and the bar staff duely oblige . there is no proper training of bar staff in this country – in fact their is no proper training of landlord and licence holders – so long as you have the money -any fool can buy a licence and open a pub – most landlords are only interested in the money going into their tills not their customers health or well being .
If it means keeping the p#!*×s away from real emergencies and elderly in a&e then yes stick them in the tank.
It’s not the HSE paying for anything. It’s the tax payer.
Send anyone lifted a bill for there time in the drunk tank.
A lot of these so called drunks are hard working people that work their arses off to make ends meet and pay taxes during the year.
The Christmas breakup is their chance to let the hair down and have a blast.
There is quite a good chance I will be one of them tonight .
Don’t be too quick to brand everyone with the same label.
@tommytukamomo: that’s fine, do what you want. But if take up valuable time from Gardai or paramedic staff you should pay for it.just because you pay your taxes does not mean you are immune from it.a real typical Irish comment you made there.
@John: I already pay through the nose and backside to keep the likes of you and the other pious pontificating curtain twitching kiljoys your insulated ivory towers.
Do have a nice Christmas.
@tommytukamomo: No problem with you getting drunk. I think the point of the poll is the idiots that can’t manage their drink. Probably 99.9% of people who get drunk can do so without involving the Gardai or hospitals.
@tommytukamomo: ‘paying for me’……..I have worked all my life,paid my taxes all my life and bought my own house.nobody pays for me sadly(hate to burst your bubble)
The EM departments are in business of looking after the sick not drunks they have enough on their plate I’d be pi#sed off if drunks can get in front of sick people.
Was Christmas eve babe,
In the drunk tank,
An old man said, son,
I wont see anothe one
@BarronVonVaderHam: was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
This old man said son
Gonna be a costly one
I know a copper who is in full agreement with Drunk Tanks.
Said it would make their life SO much easier.
It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
@☘: This isn’t Facebook
When the first person dies from an undiagnosed epidural haemorrhage they will realise why they were stopped in the first place.
While the idea of freeing up Emergency Rooms is a noble one, I would expect something like this would create further problems.
Drunk people are more likely to become unwell, and may present with subtle neurological signs that non-medical people might not appreciate. Is it ethically acceptable to not care for our sick, drunk or otherwise?
Ireland in general has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Quite aside from the drunks who simply need to sleep it off, we have the drink fuelled assaults, road traffic accidents, as well as thousands of fractures/falls/lacerations/head injuries as a result of accidents while drunk. Then we have the thousands of patients with drink related medical conditions such as Atrial Fibrillation, heart failure and cardiomyopathies, pancreatitis, liver disease, mouth and throat cancers, bowel cancer, bladder cancer This is before we even begin to mention the pink elephant in the room… the degree of mental health disorders in this country associated with substance abuse – and yes alcohol is an abused substance.
If the HSE needs to address anything, its Ireland’s attitude toward drink. We even have taxpayer sponsored politicians campaigning to allow drink driving in certain parts of the country. This kind of deviant thinking is dangerous in society. We need to protect our own. From drunks and from drink.
Why should the HSE pay for people who purposely poison themselves with alcohol let them wallow in their on vomit and faeces, Happy Christmas everyone :D
@samstheman: One too many doesn’t normally end up with you in hospital.
I thought the drunk tank referred to in the song was a cell in a police station?
Anybody rotten drunk presenting to an A& E hospital should be charged €500 for the treatment they expect from medical personnel. They will not to be too keen to repeat their visit the next time they get over the top with drink.
Great idea ……but why do we always wait for the Brits to come up something and follow same …are we not capable of our own thoughts and decision making process.
This model of dealing with drunk people is full time in Sweden ‘ the Police manage it at stations and there is a nurse that observes the drunks.
Works well there
Take the cost of the stay direct from source, no excuses.
Should be charged the same as a 5star hotel zap the card and put them to sleep
Thats 300000 that could go to cancer research or palliative care for those with terminal cancer.
Anything that keeps them lunatics out of A&E should be funded. Sure I’ll even throw in a fiver meself.
….until a drunken individual dies or develops other serious symptoms which cannot be addressed in ” the tank”. Would need a major Compo fund, because suing due to ” neglect” will be foremost in the minds of some.
Community service. There’s plenty to be getting on with out there. E.g. help out with Simon it the SVP
I voted no
It should be the vintners association that sets this up and pays with assistance of the Garda
Regarding the people who use it. If any charges are applies, they either wont go there, their friends wont bring them and if they did, would take a long time to get any response, money
It should be used to take people who are pissed as a kite off the streets and make the streets safer for them and others.
people need to calm down on the old booze and stay safe over xmas period.
Alcohol is a lethal drug that takes lives. Even though its legal its still a dangerous drug
Great idea
No, make the IVF pay for it.
When I was in the drunk tank last Christmas Eve I met an old man who was pessimistic about making it to another Christmas.
have your say