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ByCiaranFaheyand Raphael Satter The Associated Press NICE, FRANCE A truck loaded with weapons and hand grenades drove onto a sidewalk for more than a mile, plowing through Bastille Day revelers who'd gathered to watch fireworks in the French resort city of Nice late Thursday. At least 77 people were killed before police killed the driver, au- thorities said. Nice prosecutor Jean- Michel Pretre described a horrific scene, with bod- ies strewn about along the roadway and Sylvie Tof- fin, a press officer with the local prefecture, said the truck ran over people on a "long trip" down the side- walk near Nice's Palais de la Mediterranee, a building that fronts the beach. Wassim Bouhlel, a Nice native who spoke to the AP nearby, said that he saw a truck drive into the crowd. "There was carnage on the road," he said. "Bodies ev- erywhere." The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investiga- tion for "murder, attempted murder in an organized group linked to a terrorist enterprise." The ranking politician of the Alpes-Maritime depart- ment that includes Nice said the truck plowed into the crowd over a distance of 1.2 miles, killing 77 people and wounding 50. Many of those on the ground were in shorts and other summer clothing. Eric Ciotti said on BFM TV that police killed the driver "apparently after an exchange of gunfire." The president of the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur regional council, which in- cludes Nice, said the truck was loaded with arms and grenades. Christian Es- trosi told BFM TV that "the driver fired on the crowd, according to the police who killed him." Bouhlel said he wit- nessed the man emerge with a gun and start shoot- ing. Images being broad- cast across French media showed revelers running for their lives down Nice's palm tree-lined Promenade des Anglais, the famous seaside boulevard named for the English aristocrats who proposed its construc- tion in the 19th century. Video footage showed men and women — one or two pushing strollers — racing to get away from the scenes. And, in what ap- peared to be evidence of a gun battle, photos showed a truck with at least half a dozen bullet holes punched through its windshield. It was not immediately clear who would have been behind an attack, but France has recently seen a spate of dramatic assaults from by jihadist groups, including the Islamic State group which straddles Iraq and Syria. President Barack Obama condemned what he said "appears to be a horrific terrorist attack." "Our thoughts and prayers are with the fami- lies and other loved ones of those killed," he said. European Council pres- ident Donald Tusk said it was a "tragic paradox" that the victims of the attack in Nice were celebrating "lib- erty, equality and frater- nity" — France's motto — on the country's national day. France's ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, characterized the events as a "terrorist at- tack." FRANCE Truck slams into revelers in Nice; dozens are dead CIARANFAHEY—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Police officers seal off the area of an attack a er a truck drove on to the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of revelers who'd gathered to watch the fireworks in the French resort city of Nice, southern France, on Friday. By Julie Pace and Jill Colvin The Associated Press WASHINGTON Donald Trump abruptly postponed plans to announce his vice presidential pick following a day of rampant specula- tion, citing the "horrible at- tack" in Nice, France, that left scores dead. Trump had planned to hold his first event with his yet-to-be-named run- ning mate Friday morning in New York. He announced the change of plans Thurs- day evening on Twitter. The stunning announce- ment raised questions about the status of Trump's selection process. Indi- ana Gov. Mike Pence had emerged as a late favorite for the job, though Trump said he had not finalized the pick and advisers cau- tioned he could change his mind. "I haven't made my fi- nal, final decision," Trump said on Fox News Channel. He said that while his run- ning mate selection would "absolutely not" be changed by the France attack, he did not feel it was appropriate to hold a news conference in its aftermath. Dozens of people were killed late Thursday in the French resort city of Nice when a truck drove onto a sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of Bastille Day revelers who'd gathered to watch fireworks. In addition to Pence, Trump's shortlist included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Chris- tie, according to people fa- miliar with the candidate's thinking. After spending much of Thursday in Indianapo- lis, Pence flew to New York late in the day, according to a Republican familiar with the process. Indianapolis television station WTHR posted a video showing Pence arriving at a private airport outside New York early Thursday evening. Trump did not say when he planned to announce his running mate. He's up against a clock: The Repub- lican convention kicks off in Cleveland Monday. Top party officials are already in Cleveland, grap- pling with a rules fight that increased the odds of na- tionally televised clashes at the convention. Talks broke down Thursday between party leaders and recalci- trant conservatives seek- ing to "unbind" convention delegates and let them back any presidential candidate they'd like. Conservatives hope that would lead to delegates blocking Trump's nomina- tion. The convention and vice presidential announce- ment give Trump back-to- back opportunities to reas- sure Americans — as well as leaders within his own party — that he's prepared for the presidency. Pence, a staunch conser- vative who served six terms inCongress,isseenasarun- ning mate who would have the backing of GOP leaders and ease some of their con- cerns about Trump's polit- ical inexperience and vola- tile temperament. He has influential allies in Trump's inner circle. But some of Trump's children, who have been closely ad- vising their father, are said to favor different candi- dates. Campaign chair Paul Manafort was among those urging caution in assuming any decision Thursday, say- ing on Twitter that Trump's choice "will be made in the near future." As the day began, it ap- peared the decision would come quickly. Gingrich, the fiery Republican who helped define the political battles of the 1990s, told The Associated Press that Trump was supposed to let him know something in the afternoon. But by early eve- ning, Gingrich told the AP he had heard nothing from Trump or others in the cam- paign. Other Republicans with knowledge of the process said there had been no calls to Pence or Christie, either. The top contenders have been vetted by a top Wash- ington lawyer and all have spent time with Trump in recent days. But the fi- nal decision rests with the candidate, who is known for making decisions more on instinct than other fac- tors — and for sometimes changing his mind. Trump was in Califor- nia Thursday for several fundraisers. His schedule put him at a distance from many of his closest advis- ers, including Manafort and his three oldest children. Pence is running for re- election, but Indiana law prevents him from seek- ing two offices at once. He faces a Friday deadline to withdraw from the gover- nor's race. The paperwork has been drawn up for him to take that step, accord- ing to a Republican, who insisted on anonymity be- cause that person was not authorized to publicly dis- cuss the plans. However, those documents have not been filed. Pence, 57, has deep ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives, particularly after signing a law last year that critics said would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people for religious reasons. But the move alien- ated some moderates in the party. 2016 CAMPAIGN Trump postpones vice-presidential announcement, citing France attack Please help sponsor a classroom subscription Call Kathy at (530) 737-5047 to find out how. ThroughtheNewspapersinEducation program, area classrooms receive the Red Bluff Daily News every day thanks to the generosity of these local businesses & individuals. 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