Those attacks in Paris in November involved gunmen and suicide bombers who hit a theatre during a rock concert, a major stadium, restaurants and bars, almost simultaneously.

As well as the 130 people killed, hundreds were wounded.  Here is a reminder of what happened that night.

France is already under a state of emergency, after the attacks in Paris in November that left 130 people dead. It was due to end later this month.

Earlier on Thursday, President Francois Hollande said the measures could not be extended indefinitely. 

"It would make no sense. That would mean we're no longer a republic with the rule of law applied in all circumstances." 

French President Francois Hollande is due to give a news conference shortly. He has returned to Paris from the city of Avignon. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve is heading to Nice. 

Will Shore is an ex-military officer who ran towards the unfolding attack on the Promenade des Anglais and helped to rescue people. He has been speaking to the BBC.   

French journalist Damien Allemand was at the celebrations in Nice when the attack happened, and has written about what he saw in Medium (in French)., external

"The atmosphere was good," he writes, "the fireworks were neat, kids were throwing pebbles into the water". He says the promenade was thick with people.

"A split second later, a huge white truck was travelling at breakneck speed, turning the wheel to hit the maximum number of people.

"I heard noises, screams that I will never forget. I was paralyzed. I did not move."

People in France are using the hashtag #RechercheNice to try and locate their loved ones, posting the names and faces of those they have not been able to contact. 

In what has become a grim routine, the hashtags #prayforNice and #jesuisNice have started appearing on Twitter. 

If you're just joining, we're bringing you live coverage of the aftermath of what appears to have been a massive attack in the southern French city of Nice. 

A lorry ploughed into crowds watching Bastille Day celebrations. At least 77 people are now reported dead. Police shot the driver dead. Grenades and guns were then found inside the vehicle.

Stay with us for updates as they come, while our full story is here. 

Police have now set up cordons around the lorry which drove at speed into a crowd on the promenade in Nice.

Image source, EPA

The French ambassador to the US, Gerard Araud, tweeted this message earlier:

Christian Estrosi, president of the region, says that the death toll has reached 77.

The crowds in Nice had gathered to celebrate Bastille Day, France's most important public holiday. 

Some analysts say the timing is likely to be notable. Bastille Day on 14 July 1789 was an important event in the French Revolution, when a crowd stormed the Bastille fortress, known for holding political prisoners.

Christian Estrosi, the president of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, says the death toll makes this "the worst tragedy in the history of Nice". 

Grace Ann Morrow was at the Bastille Day event and said she was separated from her aunt and uncle in the chaos. 

"We just had no idea what was going on.  

It was complete chaos and people were screaming, kids were crying. To have all of that erupt on such a positive evening, it was just such a paradox."

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has offered her support to the people of Nice on behalf of "all Parisians". She says "our cities are united". France has suffered two recent terror attacks.

The AFP news agency has reported the death toll in Nice is now 75, citing one local official.