Nice attack: Hollande extends France's state of emergency after Bastille Day massacre

'A horror has come down on France once again'

Francois Hollande addresses the nation after the Nice attack

President Francois Hollande has addressed the nation in the wake of the lorry attack on a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.

Speaking after rushing back to Paris in a news conference a little before 4am local time, Mr Hollande gave the latest death toll as 77, with 20 more critically injured.

"A horror has come down on France again," he said, adding that "the terrorist character [of the the attack] cannot be denied".

Mr Hollande announced three measures in the wake of the attack, including the extension of France's state of emergency - due to end on 26 July - for a further three months.

He also announced the calling up of army reserves to bolster the ranks of police and gendarmes, as well as the continuation of Operation Sentinel, a mobilisation of 10,000 armed forces on the streets of the country.

He expressed solidarity with the victims of the attack, while sounding a defiant note, saying France would continue its operations in Syria and Iraq.

"After Paris, Nice is now hit," he said. "It is all of France which is under threat of Islamic terrorism.

"It is clear we need to do all we can to fight against terrorism," he said. "France is strong, and France will always be stronger, I assure you."