(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) In the late evening of Thursday, July 14 and early morning of Friday, July 15 a brutal terror attack hit Nice, France during Bastille Day festivities.
French daily Le Monde reports that a man driving a white truck drove into the crowd gathered on the popular Promenade des Anglais. The lorry drove for about 2 kilometres through the crowd before police shot and killed the driver.
At least 84 people were killed, including many children, and 18 critically injured according to the latest report of the Ministry of Interior.
French President François Hollande condemned the attack in 'which the terrorist character cannot be denied.” He said that France is the target of fanatics who deny human rights. He declared unambiguously that "all France is under the threat of Islamist terrorism.”
Although it was originally scheduled to end on July 26, Hollande announced an extension of the state of emergency to three months. He said, "A bill will be submitted to parliament by next week." Declared after November 2015 Paris attacks, which accounted for 130 deaths, the state of emergency was extended three times in November, February and May.
The French president also added that the Sentinel operation on national territory will be maintained. It was initially planned to reduce troop levels that make up the operation. Ultimately, that number will be maintained with at least 10,000 troops.
He also announced thathe will call upthe country'soperational reserves to protect the country. He stated in particular that reinforcements would focus on securing France";s borders.
Finally, the French president announced that France will "reinforce" its "action in Iraq and Syria." He stressed that "nothing will make us surrender our will to fight against terrorism and we will further strengthen our actions in Syria and Iraq. We will continue to strike those who, precisely, attack us on our own soil.”