Nice attack may mean tighter security for Edinburgh Festival

A woman lights a candle in tribute to the victims of the terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais. Picture: Getty

At least 84 people were killed and scores injured after a terrorist deliberately drove a lorry into Bastille Day revellers on Thursday night, before being shot dead by armed police.

France’s president Francois Hollande said some 50 people were “between life and death”, while several people are among the missing and a “small number” of Britons are injured.

Police Scotland said they would review security arrangements as a precautionary measure following the attack.

The force stressed there is no specific information which suggests the country is at risk, but the UK threat level remains at “severe”.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson, Police Scotland’s lead officer for organised crime, counter terrorism and safer communities, said: “Police Scotland is committed to ensuring all communities across the country are as safe as they can be and I would ask the public, especially around crowded places and transport hubs, to remain vigilant and alert, but not alarmed. If you suspect something is wrong, then report it to the police.”

Renowned military expert Tim Ripley said it was vital that major events taking place in the Capital underwent thorough security checks.

He said: “Security plans for open-air events along the Royal Mile during next month’s festival or the Hogmanay party must all now be under review.

“The approaches to large sports stadiums, conference centres and music venues are also high on the list of locations needing additional protection.”

Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist “murderers”.

France has declared three days of mourning following the atrocity, which comes after attacks in November in Paris in which 130 died and in January 2015 that killed 17.

Eyewitnesses said the Nice attacker – reported to be 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a man of French-Tunisian origin who was not known to intelligence services – swerved from side to side to kill as many people as possible as he drove for a mile along the Promenade des Anglais on the seafront of the city on the French Riviera.

He is said to have pulled a gun from the cab as part of the premeditated attack before being shot dead by police, with people fleeing into the sea in a bid to escape. French authorities last night confirmed 202 people were wounded, 25 of whom were on life support, while 52 were in a critical condition.

Revellers in the resort initially thought the commotion was part of a Bastille Day firework display, but then saw the lorry and assumed the driver had lost control.

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