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Nice attack: Fifty injured ‘between life and death,’ Hollande says

President Francois Hollande says 50 people injured in the Bastille day attack in Nice are now “between life and death” – in addition to the 84 known to have died.

French President Francois Hollande has described the attack as “despicable”.

He said Nice was one of the most beautiful cities in the world and that the attack had taken place on the day of celebration of liberty.

He said 84 people had died and another 50 injured, who he described as being “between life and death”.

He said the victims were French as well as foreigners and that there were a number of children among the dead.

Local reports have named the attacker as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel.

Mohamed Bouhlal belongs to a family who resides in Msakin near the city of Sousse, a Tunisian security source told BBC Arabic, on condition of anonymity.

Bouhlal’s parents are divorced and they live in France.

Mohamed used to frequently visit Tunisia, the source added, saying the last time was eight months ago, before he went back to France.

The 31-year-old, said to have been married with three children, was not known by the Tunisian authorities to have been involved in any terrorism activities on Tunisian soil.

However, he was known by to the authorities in connection with drugs and alcohol-related offences.

Earlier, the Tunisian government issued a statement condemning the attack “in the strongest possible terms”.

“Tunisia stands by France in its fight against terrorism and supports any measure taken by the French government to protect its territory and the security of its citizens and visitors,” the statement said.

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