Nice Attack Summed Up In Heartbreaking Image Showing Body Next To A Doll

A number of children are among the victims.
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This heartbreaking image sums up the senseless tragedy of the terror attack on Nice.

The photograph, taken by Eric Gaillard from the news agency Reuters, shows a child’s doll lying next to the body of someone killed in the horrifying attack that has left at least 84 dead.

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The body, covered in a body bag, next to a child's doll
Eric Gaillard / Reuters

One particularly harrowing eyewitness account told of “children dead with their parents and their toys next to them”, according to The Independent.

Wassim Bouhel, a local resident, said: “One man knelt by the body of his wife and child. What a shame, a dishonour for our religion.”

A number of children are among those killed when the truck ploughed through a crowd of people who had gathered for a Bastille Day fireworks display on Thursday night.

The Associated Press reported that regional president Christian Estrosi said that more than 10 children were among the dead.

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The aftermath of the attack
Eric Gaillard / Reuters

Laurence Marie, who works at Lenval paediatric hospital, said “many” more children were undergoing serious operations there, according to Reuters.

Footage of terrified crowds fleeing the scene showed a number of parents trying to get their children to safety, including one woman running along with a pushchair.

Many families were among those celebrating the anniversary of the 1789 revolutionary storming of the Bastille on the famed seafront Promenade des Anglais.

Scores of people were also injured in the attack as the fireworks ended just after 10.30pm local time.

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The truck which ploughed through crowds during the Bastille Day celebrations
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Eyewitnesses reported there were “bodies everywhere” after the truck is believed to have driven 2km (1.2 miles) through the crowd.

The driver also opened fire before being shot dead by police.

A police source close to the investigation said the attacker was a 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian born in Tunisia, Reuters reports.

The man was not on the watch list of French intelligence services, but was known to police in connection with common law crimes such as theft and violence, the source said.

Eric Gaillard / Reuters
French police forces and forensic officers stand next to a truck July 15, 2016 that ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday in Nice, France.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
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The truck which slammed into revelers.
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In this video grab taken Thursday July 14, 2016, ambulances and Police cars are seen after a truck drove on to the sidewalk.
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A policeman chases people out of the cordoned-off area.
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French soldiers stand guard.
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Police officers seal off the area.
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A police car is parked near the scene of the attack.
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Police officers secure the scene.
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Ambulances line up near the scene of the attack.
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Police officers and soldiers block the access to the scene.
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Eric Gaillard / Reuters
French police forces and forensic officers stand next to the truck.
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A forensic officer stands near a van with its windscreen riddled with bullets.
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A man runs near the scene of the attack.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Bodies are seen on the ground.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
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French soldiers cordon the area.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
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A woman cries asking for her son as she walk near the scene of an attack.
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French police patrol near the scene.
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A man walks near the scene.