While there were rumors of a hostage situation, a French interior ministry spokesman has said this is not the case. The spokesman also said their is no information on the driver's motive at this time.
"Investigations are currently under way to establish if the individual acted alone or if he had accomplices who might have fled," said Pierre-Henry Brandet, the interior ministry spokesperson.
The driver of the truck was killed. He drove the truck 1.2 miles through the crowd before stopping, according to prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre.
One eyewitness said there were "bodies everywhere." A journalist with the Nice Matin newspaper said there was "a lot of blood and without doubt many injured."
Another eyewitness said the truck accelerate as it hit pedestrians and zigzagged to hit more people.
— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) July 14, 2016
— News_Executive (@News_Executive) July 14, 2016
"Dear Nice residents, the driver of a truck appears to have caused tens of deaths. Stay for the moment in your homes. More info to come," said Christian Estrosi, head of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur.
— Michel Santos (@Cibereporter) July 14, 2016
There are also unconfirmed reports of gunfire being exchanged between police and the truck's occupants. Images of the truck show evidence of bullet holes in the windshield.
A number of heavy weapons and grenades were reportedly found inside the truck.
— News (@NewsFeed__) July 14, 2016
The local prefecture is treating the incident as an attack and is asking people to stay home. Police and emergencies services have rushed to the scene.
In light of the attack, French President Francois Hollande has returned to Paris from Avignon to take part in a crisis center meeting. On Friday, he will attend a security meeting of his closed cabinet.
