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THIS is the moment police shoot dead a lorry-driving terrorist who killed 84 revellers after running through them "like bowling pins" at Nice's Bastille Day celebrations.

Cops are seen to approach the cabin of the 19-tonne white truck, unloading their pistols at the man - who is returning fire - with little regard for their own safety.

French president Francois Hollande confirmed that 50 victims were fighting for their lives in hospital on Friday afternoon.

Brave police shoot the driver of the lorry who had just killed scores of revellers at a Bastille Day celebration in Nice
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Brave police shoot the driver of the lorry who had just killed scores of revellers at a Bastille Day celebration in NiceCredit: AP:Associated Press
Bodies lay on the ground after a truck driver shouting 'allahu akbar' ploughed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice
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Bodies lay on the ground after a truck driver shouting 'allahu akbar' ploughed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in NiceCredit: Matrix
Harrowing images show bodies piled up at the scene of the horrific attack
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Harrowing images show bodies piled up at the scene of the horrific attackCredit: Barcroft Media
Victims are carried to a makeshift triage area in a nearby hotel at the scene
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Victims are carried to a makeshift triage area in a nearby hotel at the sceneCredit: Getty Images
Killer Bouhlel mowed down dozens of people along a one-mile stretch of road
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Killer Bouhlel mowed down dozens of people along a one-mile stretch of road

Witness Nadar El Shafei told the BBC: "He died inside the vehicle - I saw his head hanging out of the window I could see it clearly, they kept shooting him from all sides just to be sure.

"They used a light to make sure no one else was inside the car then they asked us to run away in case there were others inside the car or a bomb."
The driver - named in local media as French Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel - zig-zagged the vehicle through a crowd of thousands over a period of half an hour.

Witnesses described men, women and children being "hit like bowling pins" on the French Riviera town's promenade.

Within 30 minutes scores lay dead or dying after married father-of-three Bouhlel's murderous 40mph rampage, during which it is reported he screamed "Allahu Akbar".

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Police said a huge arsenal of guns, grenades and "larger weapons" were found in the vehicle alongside the driver, as pro-ISIS groups celebrated the horror massacre.

More than 50 children were taken to hospital after the atrocity at around 10.30pm last night.

Christian Estrosi, the regional president in Nice, confirmed more than ten children were among the dead.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson added that one Brit was among the wounded.

In a sombre address to the French people, President Hollande said: "All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism.

Police tried to bring the lorry to a halt. Its windscreen can be seen riddled with bullets following the rampage
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Police tried to bring the lorry to a halt. Its windscreen can be seen riddled with bullets following the rampageCredit: Reuters
The horrific attack has killed at least 84 people in the French Riviera town
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The horrific attack has killed at least 84 people in the French Riviera townCredit: matrixpictures.co.uk
Abandoned pushchairs are left beside dead bodies in the aftermath of the attack
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Abandoned pushchairs are left beside dead bodies in the aftermath of the attackCredit: EFE
A rear-view of the 19-tonne truck that mowed down scores of people watching a fireworks display last night
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A rear-view of the 19-tonne truck that mowed down scores of people watching a fireworks display last nightCredit: AP:Associated Press
Belongings are left strewn along the stretch of promenade in Nice the morning after the atrocity
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Belongings are left strewn along the stretch of promenade in Nice the morning after the atrocityCredit: AP:Associated Press

"But France is a great country and a great democracy that will not allow itself to be destabilised."

Newly-appointed Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to renew the fight against extremism while US president Barack Obama condemned the "horrific terrorist atrocity".

Armed police raided Bouhlel's Nice home on Friday afternoon as a controlled explosion was carried out on a hire lorry parked on his street.

His ex-wife was reportedly arrested as police race to establish whether he was part of a wider terrorist cell that could strike again.

Images also emerged of his Nice flat as investigators scoured Bouhlel's possessions.

One neighbour labelled the 31-year-old a "loner".

What we know so far

  • A 19-tonne truck ploughed into Bastille Day revellers watching a firework display at around 10.30pm on Thursday night in the French Riviera town of Nice.
  • At least 84 people were killed as the truck zig-zagged for 30 minutes along a 2km-long promenade in a bid to strike as many people as possible.
  • Nearly 200 were injured and around 48 are fighting for their lives in hospital.
  • Police killed the driver of the truck in a firefight as he sat at the wheel of the vehicle.
  • Authorities confirmed the truck was loaded with guns and grenades.
  • Local media has identified the attacker as Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel - a 31-year-old French Tunisian and father-of-three.
  • Neighbours described Bouhlel as a “loner” as police scoured his flat on Friday afternoon.
  • No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack but ISIS-related groups have celebrated atrocity online.
  • French president Francois Hollande said: “All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism.”
  • Among the first victims named were American father Sean Copeland, 51, and his son Brodie, 11, along with Russian finance student Victoria Savchenko, 21.
An image of attacker Bouhlel emerged on Friday afternoon
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 An image of attacker Bouhlel emerged on Friday afternoonCredit: Splash News
French cops look for evidence in the flat where the Nice massacre truck driver plotted his atrocity that killed at least 84 people on Bastille Day
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French cops look for evidence in the flat where the Nice massacre truck driver plotted his atrocity that killed at least 84 people on Bastille DayCredit: Getty Images
Officers stood guard outside the apartment as they raced to establish if Bouhlel was part of a wider terrorist network
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 Officers stood guard outside the apartment as they raced to establish if Bouhlel was part of a wider terrorist networkCredit: Getty Images
The truck ploughed into a crowd of people who were celebrating Bastille Day
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The truck ploughed into a crowd of people who were celebrating Bastille DayCredit: AP:Associated Press
Covered bodies lay on the promenade after the horrific attack last night
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Covered bodies lay on the promenade after the horrific attack last nightCredit: matrixpictures.co.uk

Jasmine, 40, said: "He was rude and bit weird. We would hold the door open for him and he would just blank him.

"He kept himself to himself but would always rant about his wife. He had martial problems and would tell people in the local cafe.

"He scared my children though. They will be scarred by this."

The first victims were today named as American dad and son Sean Copeland, 51 and Brodie, 11.

The pair were on a ";dream holiday" to the south of France from Texas and were confirmed dead by friends and family online.

Haley Copeland wrote: "By now many of you have heard about the 80 people that have died in Nice, France today from a terrorist attack driving through a parade.

"Two of those 80 people were American and those two people happen to be uncle Sean and 11-year-old cousin Brodie.

"They were on vacation with my two other cousins and aunt celebrating a birthday."

American father and son Sean Copeland (far right) and his son Brodie (centre) were today named as victim of the horrific attack
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American father and son Sean Copeland (far right) and his son Brodie (centre) were today named as victim of the horrific attackCredit: Facebook
Sean and Brodie Copeland, from Texas, pose with a trophy won at a baseball match
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Sean and Brodie Copeland, from Texas, pose with a trophy won at a baseball matchCredit: Facebook
Student Victoria Savchenko was killed instantly when she was hit by the deranged truck driver
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Student Victoria Savchenko was killed instantly when she was hit by the deranged truck driverCredit: East2West
She was one of several Russians thought to be have been caught up in the attack
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She was one of several Russians thought to be have been caught up in the attackCredit: East2West

Victoria Savchenko, 21, was also named as a victim.

The Russian finance student was visiting the city with her friend from Moscow when they were caught up in the attack.

Nice has been described as a "jihadist breeding ground" that has long been the target of a deadly terror attack, according to experts.

The city of 350,000, which has a huge immigrant population, has seen dozens of residents travel to Syria to fight for Islamic State.

Claude Moniquet, a former French intelligence agent and security consultant, said: "Neither the place nor the date are coincidental."

A heroic motorcyclist flung himself onto the lorry as it mowed people down in a bid to stop the atrocity.

Shocking video footage shows the brave man clinging to the side of the vehicle as officers ahead shoot in an attempt to stop the driver.

It is unclear whether the hero survived the attack.

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