Nice attack: Truck terrorist kills 80 people; state of emergency extended in France

A terrorist killed 80 people and wounded scores while driving a heavy truck at high speed into a crowd watching Bastille Day fireworks in the French Riviera city of Nice late Thursday night, officials said.

According to an AFP report, the driver was shot dead after barrelling the truck two kilometres through the festive crowd on the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, sending hundreds fleeing in terror and leaving the area strewn with bodies. 

Investigators said that they have found identity papers belonging to the 31-year old French-Tunisian terrorist in the truck, along with guns and weapons.

French President François Hollande said that attack was "undeniably" of a "terrorist nature". After November attack in Paris, the state of emergency was implemented in Paris which was about to end on July 26. But, after yesterday's attack, state of emergency will be extended by three months, Hollande said.

This is the third major attack in France in less than 18 months. Prosecutors said anti-terrorist investigators would handle the probe.

In November, Islamic State attacked Paris and killed 130 people. According to the reports, Hollande  called up army reservists to bolster the country's security services that are stretched to the limit.

(With agencies inputs)