NICE TRUCK ATTACK LEAVES FRANCE AND THE WORLD IN SHOCK

A large truck plowed into a crowd gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France, on Thursday, killing scores of people in what the French president called a terrorist attack. The death toll increased from 77 to 84 this morning in an attack that left several others injured. This is the second attempt at mass murders in France in less than a year that has left France and the rest of the world in utter dismay.

French Prime Minister Francois Hollande believes it to be a terrorist attack however most news channels report that no terror organisation has taken responsibility for the attack. The lorry driver who was shot dead by the police was identified as Tunisian born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel who was a well-known criminal with a substantial track record. At least 10 children are among the dead following the cowardly and barbaric atrocity that left at least one British national among the many injured. Officials fear the death toll will rise.

Following such dramatic turn of events, many countries have expressed their sorrows with US President Barack Obama, who said that the States stand by their oldest ally and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be among the many leaders who have denounced the brutal attack that killed so many people with the death toll expected to rise. Narendra Modi tweeted, “India shares the pain and stands firmly with our French sisters and brothers in this hour of immense sadness”. Presumptive US Presidents Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton too have tweeted to offer some relieving words to the country and its people.

These brutal, barbaric, and inhumane attempts at mass murder remain a mystery to me. What point can anyone prove by killing hundreds and thousands of innocent people? What is wrong with the world? What has happened to human beings? Do feelings of love and compassion hold no meaning in today’s world? I hope a quick recovery to all the people injured in this coward encounter and offer my deepest condolences to the people who lost their loved ones. Even if there is no role of any top terrorist organisation in this, it still remains an act of terrorism and such acts need to stop. It is high time for people to realise that all this can bring no good and will always remain heinous acts of inhumanity. Long live the world, Long live France, Long live India and my people and I hope that someday….. maybe someday we’ll be the part of a world devoid of all these demons. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day where we won’t have to wake up to news like this.