Nice truck driver fired pistol several times: Official

The truck driver who rammed his vehicle into a massive crowd in Nice fired a pistol several times before being shot dead by police, a local official said Friday.

The truck driver who rammed his vehicle into a massive crowd in Nice fired a pistol several times before being shot dead by police, a local official said Friday.

Ambulances line up near the scene of an attack after a truck drove on to the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of revelers who'd gathered to watch the fireworks in the French resort city of Nice, southern France, Friday, July 15, 2016. (AP Photo)

“At the moment that he was shot dead by police, he had fired several times,” said president of the region Christian Estrosi.

A source close to the investigation said an “inactive” grenade was found inside the 19-tonne truck, as well as “several fake rifles”.

Regional lawmaker Eric Ciotti described “terrifying images, a scene of absolute horror, with many children among the dead”.

“Families who were sharing a moment of leisure were targeted. It was a symbolic day in a symbolic place. That... motivated the attack,” he said.

At least 80 people were killed in the attack when the truck barrelled into a crowd after a fireworks display for Bastille Day.

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