Ten Years After the Nice Attack: Commemoration and the Memory of the Attempt to Stop the Truck

Nice – 13 July 2026: A silent memorial march along the Promenade des Anglais has marked the beginning in Nice of commemorative events for the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attack of 14 July 2016. More than a thousand people took part in the march, according to consistent reports. Many wore white clothing or carried white roses in remembrance of those killed and injured.

The attack took place on France’s National Day in 2016, after the fireworks display in Nice. A terrorist deliberately drove a 19-ton truck into the crowd on the Promenade des Anglais. Eighty-six people were killed and more than 400 others were injured. The attack continues to affect survivors, relatives and the city to this day.

Franck Terrier is also at the center of the renewed remembrance. At the time, he tried to stop the truck with his motor scooter. Terrier approached the vehicle, left his scooter behind and tried to get into the driver’s cab. His intervention could not immediately stop the vehicle, but is regarded as one of several desperate attempts by bystanders to prevent further victims.

Ten years later, Terrier again describes the events as a situation in which he acted without hesitation. His memory of the night remains shaped by the images on the promenade. His testimony draws attention to the people who, despite the immediate danger to their lives, tried to confront the attacker or help the injured.

Alongside Franck Terrier, Alexandre Niguès, who was travelling by bicycle, also tried to stop the vehicle. Security forces ultimately stopped the attacker. The attack prompted a lengthy debate in France on protecting major public events, counterterrorism and supporting victims of terrorist violence.

For the tenth anniversary, the French Interior Ministry has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on public buildings nationwide. In Nice, 86 beams of light over the sea are to commemorate the 86 people killed. The traditional fireworks display will be replaced by this gesture of remembrance. The city is linking the ceremonies to a message of solidarity with bereaved families and survivors.

The current memorial march marks the start of several events around 14 July 2026. The focus is not on political disputes, but on the names of the victims, the consequences for their families and the memory of those who helped that night. For Nice, the anniversary remains a moment of shared mourning and public solidarity.