Nice Attack: Hero Halts Killer's Rampage By Jumping Into The Truck, Crushed To Death

A heroic member of the public halted the truck involved in the Nice terror attack -- in which 84 persons were confirmed dead -- by leaping into the vehicle, wrestling with the driver and seizing his revolver, giving the police time to arrive at the spot and shoot the driver dead, a media report said.

 

The Independent quoted police sources in Nice as confirming that the murderous two kilometre charge of the lorry, driven by Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, might have been even longer if it had not been for the courage of a member of the public.

 

The man had hurled himself into the cab when the 20 tonne truck was held up by an obstruction. He wrestled with the driver, who seized a revolver and fired several shots at the man and at police officers who arrived on the scene. None was hurt. The driver was then shot dead by two officers, the police said.

 

An eyewitness, Eric Ciotti, told the media that as people tried to flee from the truck, someone jumped in and was able to help the police kill the man.

 

"A person jumped on to the truck to try to stop it," Ciotti said.

 

"It's at that moment that the police were able to neutralise this terrorist. I won't forget the look of this policewoman who intercepted the killer," he added.

 

Another eyewitness, Nader El Shafei said: "I kept yelling at him, waving with my hands to stop and trying to tell him that there is a lot people under his truck - dead already. But he did not give any attention to anyone outside the truck."

 

"And suddenly I saw him picking up something like a cellphone. I thought he would call the ambulance for the accident but it seemed that I was wrong, because he just picked up his gun and he started to shoot the police," El Shafei added.

 

"Just when the police arrived they just felt something was wrong so they kept yelling at him and when he did not step out - they saw him from the window taking his gun out," he said.

 

"They knew that would be a gun shooting so they just killed him right away - they did not wait to negotiate or something, they just opened fire on him," he added.

 

'OUR FRIENDS IN FRANCE:' TRUDEAU SAYS CANADA WILL WORK TO FIGHT TERRORISM

 

CALGARY — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is thinking of "our friends in France" and will work to fight terrorism.

 

"We had a terrible attack last night and our hearts go out to the victims and their families," Trudeau said Friday while in Calgary to attend the Stampede.

 

"Canada stands with France as a steadfast ally and we will work with the international community to fight terror to ensure that we live in a peaceful world."

 

 

At least 84 people were killed when a truck full of weapons plowed into a crowd of Bastille Day revellers in the French resort city of Nice late Thursday.

 

There were no reports of Canadian casualties.

 

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the federal government has no information that would necessitate a change in Canada's terror threat level, which is currently at medium.

 

Still, Goodale urged Canadians to stay vigilant and alert.

 

"Canadians can rest assured that when the security and intelligence sector receives credible warnings on a specific threat, they work with the appropriate government partners to ensure the safety of Canadians," Goodale said in a statement. 

 

Goodale noted that while in Paris in January, he signed a declaration with his  French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, to work together on terrorism, organized crime and irregular migration.

 

FRANCE KNOWS INDIA'S SOLIDARITY COMES FROM HEART: ENVOY

 

 

France knows India's messages of solidarity following Thursday night's Bastille Day attack in the city of Nice that claimed 84 lives come from the heart, French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said on Friday.

 

"I would like to say how deeply touched I have been - how we all have been - at the embassy and in France, by the many messages of solidarity and friendship that have come from all over India this morning, from all parts of the civil society and from the government of India," Ziegler told the media here.

 

"I am especially grateful for the warm messages of the honourable President (Pranab Mukherjee) and honourable Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi)," he said.

 

 

A terrorist ploughed his truck through a crowd of thousands enjoying Bastille Day celebrations in the French Riviera city of Nice on Thursday night, mowing down at least 84 people, and injuring some 150, a third of them critically.

 

Ziegler said that over the last few years, India, like France, was badly hit by such barbaric attacks.

 

"I still recall how shocked we were, all over my country, by the bloody attack in Mumbai in 2008," he stated.

 

"And I know how much your solidarity comes from the heart."

 

 

He said India and France shared the same values, the same principles, and in a way the same challenges because both countries were open and tolerant societies.

 

"I know that more than ever, France and India stand together against this global threat.

 

"More than ever, we shall enhance our cooperation against those who would like to spread all over the world their message of death, of hate and fanaticism," said the Ambassador, adding that: "India, like France, knows only too well that there is no possible compromise with terrorists."

 

Ziegler said the attack took place on France's National Day, a day that was celebrated, all over France, the values and the messages inherited from the French Revolution: the values of democracy, freedom, tolerance and human rights.

 

 

"What is obvious is that this attack was aimed not only at killing innocent people but also against these very values and principles that are also so deeply cherished right here in India, and all over the world," he asserted.

 

But, he said, France would resist and cited French President Francois Hollande's announcement of reinforcement of the security measures all over France.

 

"He (Hollande) also had some words of utmost importance: we are horrified, but we must stand up and resist, as we did last year after the terrible attacks in Paris; our people will keep on defending France's core values and way of life," Ziegler said.

 

 

"We will not give them up. We are strong and will always be stronger than the fanatics who attack us."