Our entire country is suffering after the massacre of 84 women, men and children in Nice, at the hands of a man behind the wheel of a truck who sped into the holiday crowd gathered on the Promenade des Anglais to celebrate Bastille Day. The victims were families, young people and children from the working class districts of the city, along with tourists from France and abroad who were there to watch the fireworks on our national day, the Fête de la Fraternité. Our nation is in mourning, deeply shocked and overwhelmed with horror and sorrow. The solidarity of the people of Nice and the surrounding area, the quick reaction of law enforcement and emergency medical teams have been remarkable: no one is ready to give in to fear or hatred.

I wish to honour the memory of the victims and offer the condolences of the French Communist Party to their friends and family: you have our support and the support of our elected officials and activists. My thoughts are with the 48 victims who are fighting for their lives, 25 in intensive care units, and the other 140 injured; we wish them all a speedy recovery and we stand by them in this tragic and profoundly unjust ordeal. With all the citizens of France and all those who have chosen to live here, my heart is broken by this abomination. Whatever the supposed motive, there is no justification for such mass murders, nor are they inevitable.

Sterile political polemic is not useful or welcome; rather it is time to focus on the investigation and helping victims, time for solidarity and brotherhood.

The French Communist Party and our members will be active and ready to offer absolute solidarity with the victims and their families, as well as support to the population of Nice and the Alpes Maritimes department.

Women and men committed to peace must unite in our country to turn back the tide on blind violence, hatred and fear.