At least 84 people were killed and around fifty other injured after a lorry rammed into a crowd in the French coastal city of Nice late on Thursday evening.

The attack occurred on the popular Promenade des Anglais as people were celebrating the national day of France – Bastille Day by observing the traditional fireworks.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as 31-year-old man of dual French-Tunisian nationality. He was shot dead by the security forces.

The lorry, which had been loaded with guns and grenades, drove for two kilometres through the crowd.

Many children are believed to be among the victims. Eighteen of the injured are in critical condition.

Upon hearing of the attack, French President Francois Hollande, who was in Avignon, immediately returned to Paris to chair an emergency meeting of the interior ministry. According to him, the attack was of "terrorist nature".

The state of emergency, which has been in place since last year's November 13 terrorist attack in Paris, has been extended for another three months.

This is the first large-scale attack since the multiple gun and bomb attacks in the French capital in November, which claimed the lives of 130 people and left hundreds other injured.

The attack in Nice comes only several days after the end of the European football Championship hosted in France. Nice was one of the host cities of the tournament.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.