French President Francois Hollande is calling for an “increase” in his country’s “level of protection” following an attack in Nice, France, Thursday evening in which a driver of a “terrorist nature” ran a truck into a Bastille Day crowd, killing at least 80 people.
In a national address in Paris just before 4 a.m. local time, Hollande called for an extension of police emergency powers — which was put in place following the November terror attacks in Paris — for 3 months, which otherwise would have expired on the 26th of July.
“We have to demonstrate absolute vigilance,” said Hollande. “We have to increase … our level of protection.”
Hollande said that at least 77 people were killed, including children. Twenty people are in critical condition, he added.
Less than an hour later, the French interior minister confirmed at least 80 dead, with 18 in critical condition.
While there is not yet any confirmation of terrorism, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced that it was initiating a terror investigation. Hollande, in his remarks, called the massacre an “absolute horror” that resulted from “the scourge of terrorism.”
Hollande also said that following a previously scheduled Defense Council on Friday, he is planning to visit Nice with the prime minister.
