At least 77 people are dead and 50 have been injured in a Bastille Day attack in Nice, southern France
Eyewitnesses reported a gunfight between police responding to the attack and suspects at the scene
Witnesses said the driver crashed his truck into a group of people, jumped down and opened fire with a gun
Thousands of people were in the city watching Bastille Day fireworks when the attack began
US President Barack Obama condemned the massacre describing it as what appears to be 'a horrific terrorist attack'
At least 77 people are dead and more than 50 injured after they were mown down by a truck who drove more than a mile along the promenade ploughing down pedestrians in a terror attack during the Bastille Day celebrations in the French city of Nice.

Eyewitnesses say there was an exchange of gunfire in the aftermath of the incident before the driver was shot dead. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to unconfirmed reports in the French media. A second suspect is currently on the run according to French authorities.

Guns and grenades were later said to have been found inside the truck, which mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards hundreds of people watching a fireworks display.

Anti-terror police swooped in as the city was put on lockdown and residents were warned to stay indoors for their safety. Gunshots rang out in the streets, with gunmen targeting hotels and cafes in the port city in the south of France.

One witness called Antoine said: 'We were at the Neptune beach and a firework display had just finished. That is when we saw a white lorry. It was going quickly at 60-70 kilometres an hour.'

The gunman jumped out of the truck after ploughing through the pedestrians and began opening fire, witnesses said. Officials said the driver was shot dead near the scene. A second suspect is thought to be on the run.

Eyewitness Wassim Bouhlel said that he saw a truck drive into the crowd and then witnessed the man emerge with a gun and start shooting.

'There was carnage on the road,' Bouhlel said. 'Bodies everywhere.'

Anti terrorist police have taken over the investigation into the attack according to the French interior ministry.

France's ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, said last night's incident was a 'terrorist attack'.

Addressing a Bastille Day reception in Washington, Araud said: 'Our democracies - France, the United States, our other partners , we are besieged, we face a terrible threat.'
Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet gave an update on the rapidly developing situation. He said: 'There is no hostage-taking. 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.'

Local politician Eric Ciotti said: 'It's a scene of horror.' He confirmed the truck mowed down 'several hundred people'.

He said the truck drove for more than a mile hitting people along the promenade.

Mr Ciotti confirmed the driver was killed by police 'apparently after an exchange of gunfire'.

The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation for 'murder, attempted murder in an organised group linked to a terrorist enterprise'.

The probe is being handled by France's intelligence agency and judicial police.
A spokesman for the Alpes Maritime prefecture advised locals to 'stay indoors' as gunfire was heard, and a lorry was driven into a crowd on the Promenade des Anglais.

Eyewitnesses said there were 'bodies everywhere' with at least 150 people injured.

The truck driver crashed his vehicle and jumped out and started shooting.

Police are also searching for an accomplice.

At this stage, police are describing the incident as 'a major criminal attack'.

Sebastian Humbert, prefect for the Alpes - Martime area said: 'A truck rammed into the crowd over a long distance, which explains this extremely heavy toll.'

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