Horrifying footage captures the moment truck ploughs into screaming crowd in Nice after heroic motorcyclist throws himself on the vehicle and police open fire

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This is the horrifying moment a lorry mows down a crowd of terrified pedestrians watching fireworks after a heroic motorcyclist flings himself onto the vehicle to try and stop the terrorist attack in Nice.

Footage from two different angles shows the truck ploughing into scores of revellers at roughly 40mph on Nice's Promenade du Paillon, killing at least 84 people and injuring at least 50.

In one video, a motorcyclist is seen desperately trying to stop the lorry before as it speeds up approaching thousands of people out celebrating Bastille Day in the port city.

This is the horrifying moment a lorry mows through a crowd of terrified pedestrians in Nice southern France

In the other video, taken from a nearby balcony, a heroic motorcyclist is seen throwing himself off his bike in a dramatic lunge towards the truck 

The footage, shot from a nearby balcony shows the motorcyclist speeding alongside the truck before jumping off the moving bike and running alongside.

He then jumps onto the side, desperately clinging to the canvas, despite having no clue if the terrorist has rigged the truck with explosives - something ISIS are known for doing in the past. 

The motorcyclist then continues to cling to the vehicle as other officers ahead of the vehicle shoot at its front in an attempt to stop the driver, a French Tunisian national who was eventually killed.

German journalist Richard Gutjahr, 42, who filmed the scene unfold, said: 'I stood on the balcony, right on the Promenade des Anglais, and saw how people celebrated there, and how suddenly a truck drove through the crowd,' he told AFP on Friday.

'Surprisingly, he drove very slowly, not fast, he drove slowly and he was chased by a motorcyclist. 

'The motorcyclist attempted to overtake the truck and even tried to open the driver's door, but he fell and ended up under the wheels of the truck.' 

A cache of weapons including hand grenades was later discovered inside the vehicle.

It is not clear whether the lorry has already ran over some of its victims, but the balcony footage clearly shows the authorities rushing out to stop and shoot the driver. 

Police officers are seen running out of their car to fire at the terrorist before he reaches the crowd outside during the French national holiday.

Mr Gutjahr said: 'It was like a [scene from] a movie. At the crossroads, the police opened fire after the truck driver started driving faster and running people over.'

In another clip posted to YouTube the lorry is seen from the side colliding with revellers. It reportedly travelled down the promenade for over a mile. 

Both clips were posted to YouTube by Pray for France soon after the attack.

After the side-on video captures the lorry careering along the promenade it shows a crowd of hundreds fleeing for their lives in scenes of chaos.

Footage from this angle clearly shows the authorities rushing out to stop and shoot the driver

Shocking footage shows the truck ploughing into pedestrians on Nice's Promenade du Paillon

French authorities shot the driver dead after the lorry continued for 1.2 miles down the promenade

A front view of the lorry littered with bullet holes after police opened fire on the driver and shot him dead

It shows terrified people, including the camerawoman, race inside nearby buildings for cover.

Screams of 'run' can be heard and shouts in various languages as people scamper up stairwells and through corridors to escape the scene. 

The latest reports state that after driving a mile down the promenade, the driver jumped out of the truck and started to open fire on members of the public.

According to Mr Gutjahr: 'In the next 15 to 20 seconds there were shots from several guns. I don't know who shot at whom.' After that, 'the panicked crowd ran in all directions. Those who could save themselves ran into the hotels, or sought security in the hotel entrances.

'Right afterwards I personally saw 12 dead bodies, and it was already clear there would be more.'

The attack happened in the Promenade des Anglais in Nice while victims were watching a firework display

Officials said the driver was eventually shot dead near the scene. A second suspect is currently on the run, according to French authorities.

Unconfirmed reports in the French media say that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Anti-terror police swooped in as the city was put on lockdown and residents were warned to stay indoors.

Guns and grenades were later said to have been found inside the truck, which mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards hundreds of people watching a fireworks display. 

Appalling scenes after the lorry rammed down pedestrians show bodies along the promenade

Thousands of people were out for the celebrations held during one of France's major national holidays