John Kerry condemns terrorists' 'nihilistic and depraved approach to life and death'

Secretary of State John Kerry.
(Image credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Following the deadly attack in Nice, France, on Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized that the international community must waste no time in tackling terrorism. During the attack, Kerry was in Moscow for a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about a "military-cooperation agreement in Syria," a possibility that Kerry called " more relevant and urgent" after the Nice attacks, The New York Times reports.

"I think people all over the world are looking to us and waiting for us to find a faster and more tangible way for them feeling that everything that is possible has been done to end this terrorist scourge and to unite the world in the most comprehensive efforts possible to fight back against their nihilistic and depraved approach to life and death," Kerry told Lavrov. "And you and I and our teams are in the enviable position of actually being able to do something about it."

So far, European countries have responded to the attack by increasing security. French President Francois Hollande has extended the country's existing state of emergency for another three months, and also deployed military personnel throughout France. Leaders in Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republican have said they will increase border control and review their security procedures.

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At least 84 people were killed in the attack Thursday when a truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. Hollande has called the incident a terrorist attack.

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