A Russian woman was killed in a deadly terror attack that struck France’s southern city of Nice overnight, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday.
Victoria Savchenko, a student at the Financial University Under the Government of the Russian Federation, was visiting Nice with her friend and fellow student Polina Serebryannikova, who was injured during the attack and was taken to hospital, the Interfax news agency reported, citing university representatives.
A truck crashed into a crowd that had gathered to watch the Bastille Day fireworks show late Thursday, killing at least 84 people.
The whereabouts of three more Russian citizens who reportedly attended the celebrations is unknown.
The driver managed to travel about 2 kilometers along the waterfront before he stopped and was killed by police officers after a short gunfight.
Two more Russian citizens — a young couple heading for their hotel after they left the celebration ?€” turned from the waterfront just a few seconds before the terrorist?€™s truck drove down the street, RIA Novosti reported.
"We saw fireworks, and people were shouting. First, I thought that they were enjoying the fireworks, but they were screams of people who tried to flee from the truck," a young man said.
Russia?€™s Rostourism agency has advised Russian tourists in France to avoid leaving their hotels unless it is absolutely necessary, stay clear of large crowds and follow the instructions of local authorities. In a statement, the agency estimated that there could be up to “tens of thousands” of Russian tourists currently holidaying during peak season in the French resort town.
According to some reports, the terrorist ?€” a 31-year-old French-Tunisian man ?€” may be connected to Islamic State, though no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, RIA Novosti reported.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.