What we know now about the attack in Nice, France.
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At least 84 people, including foreigners and children, have died after a truck ploughed into crowds at a Bastille Day event in Nice on the French Riviera.
The country's president Francois Hollande said 50 people "are in an absolute urgency between life and death" in hospital.
As many as 30,000 people had gathered along the city's famous promenade to watch an annual fireworks display for France's most celebrated national holiday on July 14.
The attack at 10.30pm, which left nearly 200 people injured or dead, is being treated as terrorism.
More than 50 children were injured – at least 30 were taken to Foundation Lenval children's hospital, with two later dying. Witnesses reported seeing the truck drive into a children's carousel.
Reports suggest the truck driver was zig-zagging for about two kilometres (at a speed of about 50km/h) to hit as many people as possible.
Authorities said he was firing into the crowd as well, causing a fear-stricken stampede of people down the Promenade de Anglais.
Parents reportedly threw their children over fences, while some people dived into the ocean, to escape the attacker and the stampede.
In the past 18 months, 228 people have been killed in terrorist attacks in France.
Weapons
The mayor of Nice said the truck contained guns and grenades. However, there are reports the guns were fake and the grenade inactive.
The driver
Police shot and killed the truck driver, spraying the truck with bullets.
Local newspaper Nice-Matin have named the driver as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old dual French-Tunisian national who lived in Nice. He was reportedly the father of a young child.
Bouhlel, believed to be a delivery driver, is thought to have hired the truck from a nearby town the day before.
Police said he was known to them for a series of small petty violence, traffic and a weapons-related offences, but that he had not previously been linked with terrorism.
Terror link suspected
The attack is being treated as terror-related, although no group has claimed responsibility.
The motive of the truck driver is unknown.
Police are investigating whether anyone else was an accomplice.
There are more Tunisians among foreign jihadist fighting in Syria and Iraq than any other country, according to some estimates.
Australians involved
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said three Australians received minor injuries while trying to flee.
DFAT is advising Australians in Nice to stay indoors. All Australians in France should monitor the media, follow the instructions of local authorities and contact loved ones to let them know they are safe, it recommends.
In Australia, the public can call DFAT's 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135. The same service can be reached at 61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.
Ambulances line up near the scene of the attack. Photo: Claude Paris
State of Emergency
French President Francois Hollande has described the attack as a "monstrosity" and extended the country's state of emergency for three months from July 26.
France will mobilise 10,000 extra military troops to support police and gendarmes, particularly along the nation's borders.
Mr Hollande also announced three days of national mourning, from July 17 to July 19.
"We are facing a war that terrorism brings ... the only answer should be that of a united France," he said.
Increased security at the Tour de France
The country's national sporting event, the Tour de France, started with minute's silence on Friday to honour the victims of Nice attack.
Race director Christian Prudhomme said there was a crisis meeting with police before the stage began and that security would be reinforced along the stage 13 route for the 37.5km time trial from Bourg-saint-Andeol to Vallon Pont-d'Arc, three hours north-west of Nice
"We asked ourselves [whether the stage should be cancelled] but we think, after agreeing with authorities, that the race must continue," he said. "We want this day to be a day of dignity as a tribute to the victims."
Facebook has activated its safety check feature for people feared to have been affected in Nice.
Police officers and a soldier stand by the sealed off area of the attack. Photo: AP
World reacts
The United Nations Security Council said it "condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack".
Leaders around the world including US President Barack Obama, China's President Xi Jinping and Britain's new foreign secretary Boris Johnson have condemned the attack.
Both presumptive US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have said: "This is war."
Australia responds
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has spoken to Australia's ambassador in France.
"Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the people of France," he said. "Our nations are united in freedom's cause today, just as we were a hundred years ago [in a reference to World War I]."
The French flag was flown over the Harbour Bridge within hours, and landmarks across the country were lit in red, white and blue in solidarity.
This is how far the driver travelled along the Promenade des Anglais.
Free calls
Telstra is offering free calls for Australians.
The telco is offering free calls to France from 12.01am AEST on July 15 until 11.59pm AEST on July 21, 2016 for Australians inquiring about the wellbeing of loved ones.
