At least 84 people have been killed in Nice, France after an armed man drove a truck at full speed for 2km through a crowd who had gathered to watch the Bastille Day (France’s National Day) fireworks display over the seafront. Following the the Charlie Hebdo killings and the massacre of 130 people in Paris in November, it is the third terrorist attack to happen in France.
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The driver, identified by a police source as a 31-year-old Tunisian-born Frenchman, also appeared to open fire before officers shot him dead. French President Hollande has described the incident as a terrorist act.
Besides those killed, scores of people were also injured in the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has confirmed that one of the persons injured is a Singaporean who was not registered with MFA.
The Ministry said that his injuries were not life threatening and that they are in close contact with the family. The Singapore Embassy in Paris has dispatched an officer to Nice to provide consular assistance to the Singaporean and his family.
Another of the injured is a Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) student, and the school has identified him as Mr Esmond Chuah Hooi Ong. MFA is also assisting him.
Mr Chuah, a third year Malaysian student, is among 12 SUTD students who are currently in Nice for its summer programme. SUTD said that he is now in stable condition in the hospital and in contact with his parents. The 11 other SUTD students are all safe and accounted for.
In a statement, SUTD said that it is “in contact with all relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and working with the International SOS to provide on-ground support and counselling. We are also doing all we can to support and update the students and their parents. The other 11 students have been advised to remain in their hostel and pay attention to the safety instructions of the French authorities.”