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Swiss president condemns ‘unacceptable’ Nice attack

The Local
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Swiss president condemns ‘unacceptable’ Nice attack
Emergency services attend the scene in Nice. Photo: Valery Hache/AFP

The Swiss president has expressed his deep shock and sadness at the horrific attack in the French city of Nice during the Bastille Day celebrations late on Thursday night.

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At least 84 people were killed when a large truck ploughed into crowds celebrating the French national holiday in the southern city.

The driver of the truck, thought to be a Frenchman with Tunisian roots, was shot dead.

On Friday French President Francois Hollande said the attack was clearly a "terrorist" act, making it the third major terrorist attack on French soil in 18 months.

“Such acts are completely unacceptable,” Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann told news agencies, speaking from Mongolia where he is attending a conference.

“The thoughts of the population and the government are with the victims’ loved ones.”

“We must fight against all forms of terrorism, but there is no recipe. If there was, we would have already acted,” he added, saying it was essential to ensure young people felt part of society.

The Swiss foreign office is currently working with the French authorities to establish if there were any Swiss victims in this latest attack.

On Friday morning the anti-terror task force of the Swiss federal police gathered to assess the risk to Switzerland, news agencies reported.

There are currently no reported delays or cancellations on flights between Switzerland and Nice.

However customers with Swiss International Airlines who booked a flight to Nice before July 14th and are due to travel this month can change it, if they wish, free of charge, for a date prior to September 30th, said the Lufthansa-owned airline.

Swiss runs 28 weekly flights from Zurich to Nice and 12 from Geneva.

For updates on the situation in France, visit our sister site The Local France.

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