At least 84 people were killed and
several others were seriously injured Thursday when a suspected
terrorist drove a large truck into a crowd that had gathered for a
Bastille Day fireworks display in the southern French city of Nice.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but
two sources, including a U.S. counterterrorism source who collects and
monitors jihadist social media, told Fox News that accounts linked to
ISIS were “celebratory” and their followers were told to use the hashtag
“Nice.”
Initial reports said the man was driving a truck loaded with guns and hand grenades. However, a security source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that an “inactive” grenade was found as well as “several fake rifles.”
The death toll was confirmed by French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve early Friday morning. A source told Fox News that two Americans – a father and his son – were among the dead in the attack.
Earlier, French President Francois Hollande said that children were among the dead, and said his country was "under the threat of Islamic terrorism. We have to demonstrate absolute vigilance and show determination that is unfailing."
Hollande also announced that he would extend France's state of emergency by another three months, until Oct. 26. France has been on its highest state of alert since ISIS terrorists killed 130 people in Paris this past Nov. 13.
French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said the truck driver was killed by police. According to AFP, the man fired his gun several times into the massive crowd of Bastille Day revelers before being shot dead. Images showed the truck riddled with bullets on its windshield.
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