Knife attack near Notre-Dame Church.
The death toll after a knife attack in Nice, in southeastern France, rose to three and the anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office announced the opening of an investigation into murder and attempted murder, AFP reports.
A police source told the French agency that two people, a man and a woman, were killed in the Notre-Dame church, where the attack occurred, and a third victim, seriously injured, died in a bar near the church, where he had taken refuge.
The anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office announced the opening of an investigation for “murder” and “attempted murder” after the attack, in which at least one of the fatalities was beheaded and several others were injured.
The events took place at about 9 am on the spot (8 am in mainland Portugal) near Notre-Dame Church in central Nice, a police source added.
Many policemen and firefighters are at the scene, said an AFP journalist who is outside the security perimeter and a few dozen meters from the church.
Tram traffic has been disrupted in this busy area.
“The situation is under control, we must not panic,” said the local police.
“The detonations they hear are caused by the demining operation,” added police spokeswoman Florence Gavello.
The Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, announced on the social network Twitter the holding of a “crisis meeting” in Paris, while the National Assembly decided to keep a minute of silence in solidarity with the victims and their relatives.
The French prime minister, Jean Castex, left the National Assembly urgently, where he appeared to clarify about the new confinement due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, to address the crisis unit.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also be present at this meeting, announced the Elysee palace.
Nice was mourning in 2016 after an attack that left 86 dead on the famous Promenade des Anglais avenue on July 14, in the middle of a national holiday.
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