French President Hollande: 'We must do everything we can to fight against this scourge of terrorism'

(Image credit: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images)

last updated 15 July 2016

During a press conference early Friday, French President Francois Hollande called the truck attack in Nice "obviously a terrorist attack," and said "several children" were among the 84 people killed.

"Nothing will shake us and will make us renounce the fight against terrorism," Hollande said. "In fact, we are going to strengthen our action in Syria and Iraq and continue to hit those who are attacking us on our own territory and will hit them in their own locations." He announced that the state of emergency France was put under after the November terrorist attacks in Paris, which was due to expire this month, will be extended for another three months, and reserve and active military personnel will be sent to areas where extra security is needed.

Hollande, who will travel to Nice later in the day, said the driver of the truck is dead and now investigators are looking into his past and searching for any accomplices. "It is clear we must do everything we can to fight against this scourge of terrorism," he said, adding, "France is deeply saddened by this new tragedy. It is horrified by what has just happened, such a monstrosity. … I can assure you we will always be stronger than the fanatics that are attacking us."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox