The fourteenth of July has a special place in the hearts of the French, but from this year on, Bastille Day will carry the memory of a senseless attack in Nice which has left at least 80 people dead.

With the death toll on the rise, dozens have been left injured after a truck found to be carrying weapons and grenades ploughed into a crowd of people celebrating on the French Riviera.

“A truck rammed into the crowd over a long distance, which explains this extremely heavy toll,” Sebastien Humbert, administrator for the Alpes-Maritimes region, told reporters.

According to an eyewitness, the attacker drove the truck into the crowd for some two kilometres before getting out and aiming fire at them.

But it didn’t end there, with French media reporting that the gunman then proceeded to get back into the truck and travel to another populated area before recommencing shooting.

Police on the scene started firing at the truck, which added to the chaotic scene, with people fleeing in panic.

A reporter from local newspaper Nice Matin was at the scene of the attack, and was quoted as saying that there were injured people everywhere, with blood strewn across the street.

The truck’s driver was shot dead, with an investigators looking into the attacker’s identity, interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told AFP.

“Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled,” he said.

Thursday’s attack was the third large-scale attack for France in less than two years.

The world reacts
Barack Obama: “On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians.”

Nicolas Sarkozy: “Deep emotion and infinite sadness at the #Nice16 attack. Solidarity with the #Niçois”

Justin Trudeau: “Canadians are shocked by tonight’s attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims, and our solidarity with the French people.”

Downing Street spokesman: “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.”

Donald Trump: “Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse.”