Nice: silent march ten years after 14 July attack
A procession of around a thousand people paraded along the Promenade des Anglais to commemorate the decade since the lorry attack that killed 86 people.
Nice: silent march ten years after 14 July attack
Nearly a thousand people took part on Sunday 12 July in a silent procession along the Promenade des Anglais. Dressed in white and carrying a white rose, they inaugurated the ceremonies marking the tenth anniversary of the lorry attack that claimed the lives of 86 people and injured more than 400 on 14 July 2016.
The gathering began near Lenval children's hospital, where the heavy vehicle had begun its deadly rampage and where many traumatised children were subsequently treated. Around 300 bereaved families led the march, joined by elected officials, the prefect, the investigating magistrate, firefighters and members of the local football club.
Patrick Prigent, head of the Life for Nice association, praised the solidarity demonstrated. According to remarks reported by franceinfo, this event shows that citizens share the pain of survivors and the families of the deceased.
The route ended in front of a work by Jean-Marie Fondacaro, "L'ange de la baie", erected at the exact spot where the vehicle was intercepted and where its perpetrator, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, was neutralised by police officers. The marchers then laid their flowers near a kiosk in an adjacent square, whilst a harpist played.
Other major events are planned in the coming days: an ecumenical prayer on Monday, then on Tuesday an official ceremony with the presence of Emmanuel Macron at 18:15, followed at 22:00 by a drone ballet and 86 blue searchlights illuminating the sky in tribute to the victims.
Source: France Info