KUWAIT, July 15 (KUNA) -- The death toll of the truck attack that hit the French city of Nice on Thursday night has risen to 84 people, as more countries and international organizations react strongly by condemning and deploring it as a "terrorist" act.
French media and police sources said Friday the death toll of the attack has risen to 84 people, while the number of victims is expected to climb even higher as many of the injured are seriously hurt.
Local police sources in Nice were quoted as saying there were over one hundred people wounded with 18 of the injured in extremely critical condition.
Although there is yet no clear trail to any terrorist organization, nor has there been a claim of responsibility for the Nice truck attack, France's Prosecutor's Office has opened an enquiry and ordered his anti-terrorist section to lead it.
The white truck that rammed into a crowd of spectators at a fireworks display on National Day is also being traced by police, who shot the lone driver after the attack.
French President Francois Hollande cut short a trip outside of Paris in the early hours of Friday after the truck attack.
France has set up a "crisis center" to oversee the situation and Hollande is visiting the center as his first priority on returning from the city of Avignon.
The truck driver assassin reported used a hired truck and fired a weapon into the crowd as he crushed his victims, media.
The 31-year-old French national of Tunisian origin shot a handgun out of the window of the truck as he careened down the famous Nice beachfront and mowed down people over a distance of more than one kilometer.
The driver was subsequently shot dead by police, who confiscated a handgun and also found what appeared to be a stock of heavy weapons in the back of the truck. "France Info" radio report quoted police as saying the weapons were fake.
Reports said that the man had no prior history with extremist or terrorist movements and he was not on the intelligence services "watch list" and was not labeled an "S" category suspect, which stands for a security risk for terrorist offences.
Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande has reversed an earlier decision to revoke a State of Emergency here and has extended special police and judicial powers for three months because of the brutal truck attack.
"France was hit on its National Day, July 14... because human rights are denied by fanatics and France is obviously their target," Hollande said in a nation-wide address.
Although there is yet no evidence of a terrorist group link to the truck attack on spectators of the July 14 fireworks show in Nice, Hollande said that he believed it was a terrorist attack and he said France would react accordingly.
He said that the preliminary investigation had not found any accomplices for the driver of the articulated truck who was shot dead by police and the investigation is only beginning.
The driver of the vehicle is identified as a 31-year-old with a record for petty crimes but no record for links with extremist or terrorist groups.
France in 2015 was hit twice by major terrorist assaults, claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS), and 147 people were killed in shooting and bombing operations in Paris and its region.
He vowed to strike back against groups that are bringing suffering and carnage to France, which he said would "show determination without fail" in this struggle.
He also promised to "reinforce actions in Syria and Iraq and attack those who attack us in our land." France is already active in the air campaign in those two countries, which are bastions of the IS terrorist group.
France has declared three days of national mourning after the brutal truck attack that killed 84 people and wounded 100 more in the French Riviera city of Nice Thursday night.
Flags will be flown at half-mast for three days as of Friday on all public buildings, and the regular government programs will be suspended, the Prime Minister's office said.
France's head of government Manuel Valls has called on the population to "form a bloc" and resist the terrorist actions which have now killed at least 233 people here since January 2015, including two assassinated police officers.
France has decided to call up military reservists to help bolster the already high number of police, Gendarmes, and military personnel on anti-terrorism duty here, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Friday.
Speaking after an emergency Defence Council meeting, Valls revealed President Francois Hollande had ordered the new security measures, in addition to ordering the prolonging of the State of Emergency that was due to be revoked on July 26.
The "volume of reservists" to be called up has not yet been decided, Valls said.
He also indicated that the government would be putting a bill before parliament on Tuesday, aimed at reinforcing security here.
Before Thursday's attacks, there were 10,000 French troops assigned to anti-terror and protection duties, nationwide, and this was to be drawn down to 7,000 at the end of the summer. The drawdown has now been cancelled and the troop levels reinforced with reservists.
The truck attack has sparked a wide wave of Arab, Islamic and international condemnations, with renewed calls for more concerted efforts to be exerted to fight the scourge of terrorism.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned in the strongest terms the "barbaric and cowardly" terrorist attack which took place in Nice, France, on the evening of Bastille Day.
The members of the Security Council expressed in a statement their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government of France, reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
The Japanese-led Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism" are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed." They 15-member body reaffirmed in the statement the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
In Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his sorrow over "the terrible ordeal" that struck the French city of Nice.
"I would like to express solidarity with the victims, their families and all French men and women today in mourning following the cowardly act of terror," he said in a statement.
Juncker added that France can count on the European Commission to continue to support it and on the other EU States in the fight against terrorism within and outside the EU.
In Washington, US President Barack Obama condemned in the "strongest terms" the horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, during the national Bastille Day celebrations.
"I have directed my team to be in touch with French officials, and we have offered any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice," said Obama in a statement.
The US stands in "solidarity and partnership" with France, the US' "oldest ally," as it responds this attack, said the president.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded," Obama added.
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the "terror" attack which hit the French city of Nice, calling for a unified international effort to counter terrorism in all its forms.
In his letter to French President Francois Hollande, Putin affirmed Russia's strong stance with France on this occasion, noting that Moscow will stand side by side with Paris to oppose terrorists.
Similarly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry both condemned the attack which left about 84 people killed and hundreds of others injured including 18 individuals in serious condition.
On the other hand, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expressed its deepest sorrow and condemnation of the tragic terror attack which hit the city of Nice, France, Thursday evening.
GCC Secretary General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani said that the attack, which was carried out by a person driving a truck, was a "criminal act" that goes against all humanitarian laws and ethics.
The GCC chief expressed his deepest condolences towards the victims of the attack, hoping for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.
In Kuwait, the Foreign Ministry voiced Kuwait's condemnation of the criminal attack which hit the city of Nice in France, leaving at least 84 people dead and over 100 others injured.
A source at the Ministry expressed utter contempt towards the attack which occurred on the eve of France's national celebrations.
The Kuwaiti leadership and people stand in solidarity with France against such acts, said the source who expressed condolences over the victims of the attack and also wished the swift recovery of those injured during the incident.
Saudi Arabia condemned the "heinous terror attack" that hit the French city of Nice.
In a statement relayed by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), an official source reiterated the Kingdom's solidarity with France against all acts and forms of terrorism.
The source offered condolences to the families of the victims and the French people and the government.
In Cairo, Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the terrorist attack which took place in the city of Nice South of France, killing at least 84 people while leaving over 100 others injured with 18 in critical condition.
Aboul Gheit's spokesmen Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement that countering such acts was important to save the lives of many innocent people who are usually the victims of such terror.
He offered his condolences to victims' families and to the French people and government. (end) mt