This is a developing story and this post will be updated throughout the day. Please check back or click “refresh” for the most recent updates.
At least 84 people are dead, including 10 children, and up to 202 others are believed to be injured following a terrorist attack in the southern city of Nice, France.
As many as 52 people are fighting for life with critical injuries in hospital.
The attack occurred just after 11pm local time (7:48am AEST) on 14 July, when a lorry accelerated into crowds of tens of thousands during a Bastille Day celebration along the popular beachside Promenade des Anglais.
Islamic State reportedly officially claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday.
The vehicle was travelling at around 60-70km per hour, and was reportedly loaded up with grenades and weapons.
The driver, who has been named by the Paris prosecutor as 31-year-old French Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, was shot dead at scene.
It is understood Bouhlel lived locally and was a married father of three. He was known to police for a history of crimes including theft and violence dating back to 2010, but was unknown to counter-terror agencies.
His ex-wife has been arrested and held in custody, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said in a press conference.
The first images of Bouhlel, apparently from his French residency visa, have been published in European media outlets.
French police have been searching the attacker’s home.
“Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled,” interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brander said, according to ABC News.
Police in Nice arrested three people in early morning raids on Saturday local time in trying to determine whether he had help within his entourage.
Bouhlel was said to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" – meaning "God is great" in Arabic – before being killed.
The attack comes just eight months after gunmen killed 130 people in the Paris attacks.
Three days of mourning announced.
French President Francois Hollande gave a press conference about the attack, announcing three days of mourning for the European country.
He has also confirmed several children are among the victims of the attack.
Around 50 children are in hospital, with some clinging to life, AFP reports.
"France has been struck on the day of her national holiday... the symbol of liberty," Hollande said.
"France as a whole is under the threat of Islamic terrorism. We have to demonstrate absolute vigilance and show determination that is unfailing."
Hollande announced that the nation's state of emergency, which was due to end later this month, would now be extended.
He said authorities were working to discover if the driver of the truck had any accomplices.
In a tweet after his address Hollande reiterated the message of strength: "France is weeping, afflicted but she is stronger and will always be stronger than the fanatics who hit us today."
Three Australians were injured in the attack, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.
Australian tour company Top Deck has confirmed that one of its customers has suffered minor injuries.
A spokesperson for the company said, "As of 02.30 local time, all of our customers are safe and accounted for. Unfortunately one of our customers has reported some minor injuries.
"They are with Topdeck staff and are currently being tended to in hospital. Our family liaison team has been in direct contact with the injured customer’s family and we are ensuring the best care possible."
A tweet from Major Christian Estrosi shortly before the attack:
Eyewitness accounts.
A reporter from Agence France-Presse (AFP) saw the incident occur and described the scene as "absolute chaos", according to The Guardian.
"We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around," he said, adding that the crash took place near the Hotel Negresco with many terrified pedestrians screaming as they fled the area. "It was absolute chaos."
A security cordon was quickly established around the area with a spokesperson from interior ministry confirming the driver was shot dead at the scene.
"We almost died. It was like hallucinating... (the lorry) zigzagged," another eyewitness told i-Tele.
"You had no idea where it was going. My wife... a metre away ... she was dead.
"The lorry ripped through everything. Poles, trees, we have never seen anything like it in our lives. Some people were hanging on the door trying to stop it."
World leaders respond.
Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, who is in Paris for Bastille Day celebrations, released a statement on his Facebook page, saying he was "in shock".
Current and former world leaders and politicians have expressed horror and sympathy over what's occurred in Nice.
US President Barak Obama has issued a statement:
Turnbull continued:
Justin Trudeau was among many leaders who tweeted a response:
The Guardian reports that Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang also condemned "terrorism in all forms" and offered his condolences to the victims and their families, while speaking on a visit to Mongolia.
Australian landmarks including the Victorian parliament, Adelaide town hall, Perth Council House and Brisbane City Hall have also lit up in blue, red, and white.
Meanwhile, a French flag is currently flying over Sydney harbour in solidarity.
Hundreds have gathered at Sydney's Circular Quay in an evening candlelight vigil to reflect on those injured and killed, news.com.au reports.
How newspapers in Europe are reporting the attack:
Local paper Nice Matin tweeted: "If you are looking for a place to find cover, use #PortesOuvertesNice (doors open Nice)".
The hashtag is gaining steam on social media as a way for people in Nice to find a safe place to shelter in the wake of the attack.
It's a movement that first sprung up in the wake of the Paris attacks last year, offering shelter to travellers or people blocked from their homes due to police operations in their neighbourhood.
Concerned about friends or family? Call DFAT: 1300 555 135 or +61 2 6261 3305 (if outside Australia).
Top Comments
Well, I hope Merkel is proud of herself, she so badly wanted to let them all in. Now the people are going to pay for her mistakes. So wrong.
They needed to put a stop to the flow of unfiltered immigration a long time ago, it's too late now. The enemy lives among them.
"Well, I hope Merkel is proud of herself, she so badly wanted to let them all in"
What the??? The reports I've read say the driver was French, born in Tunisia, with dual citizenship of the two countries. Not a refugee & nothing to do with Angela Merkel.
'Guest' is incorrect about this attack being by a refugee, as he was technically a migrant.
But the sex attacks on new years eve, and the continuing sex attacks at european bathing houses are down to refugees, and they are on Merkel; she opened the borders.
Gosh, if an islamic french citizen can kill people by the dozens, just imagine what islamic refugees are capable of!
He didn't come through i unfiltered immigration. He was from tunisia and would've come in legally and in an organised way. Tunisia was colonized by the french and people from former french colonies can apply and get in relatively easily. This had nothing to do with the immigration from syria.
Some very strong tweets from our world leaders. The terrorists must be under a lot of social media pressure now. Maybe only a couple of hashtags from ending terrorism.
The problem is obvious, people are not praying for Nice hard enough.
Oh if only Nice had been a truck free zone.