Ambassador: France is grateful for messages of support

Ambassador: France is grateful for messages of support

Moro also confirmed there were no Serbians among the victims, although as she noted, there were many Serbians among the people who had gathered in the French city.

The ambassador said that, according to information available at that point, 81 people had been killed and 175 more injured.

Moro expressed her gratitude to Aleksandar Vucic, who visited the embassy today to sign a book of condolences, and added that the embassy received many messages of sadness and friendship from Serbian citizens.

"All messages of solidarity and friendship are very important to us because it gives us strength in these moments," said Moro.

The diplomat also noted that the French are "not too surprised by what happened, given that the country has been on alert for a year and a half."

"Very high security measures have been in force in France for some time, which allowed us to organize some big international events well, such as the conference on climate change in December 2015, the European Football Championship and the Summit of the Western Balkans on July 4 in Paris" Moro said.

She added that French President Francois Hollande this morning held a meeting of the Council for Defense to discuss all the circumstances and the measures that should be taken. A decision was made for a state of emergency to remain in force, along with additional security measures, especially in the areas of travel - given the season and a large number of tourists traveling across the country.

According to Moro, her country's message today is that "we should come together, be united, and faithful to the values ​​of the Republic, which were celebrated yesterday, on Bastille Day."

Condolences

Earlier in the day, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic offered his condolences in a message sent to his French counterpart Manuel Valls, and the people of France.

"We are horrified by the brutal terrorist attack in Nice, which killed a large number of people," his message stated, and added:

"Terror has struck again at the heart of France and Europe, turning a day of national celebration into one of national mourning and warning us again that only our resolve to together fight the evil of terrorism can protect the family, cultural and civilizational values we share."

"On behalf of the government of Serbia and on my own behalf, I offer expressions of deepest condolences to your government and the families and friends of the victims," Vucic said in his message to Valls.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic also on Friday offered his condolences, and signed a book of condolences at the French embassy in Belgrade.

According to reports on Friday morning, 84 people were killed when an attacker driving a truck first opened fire and then plowed through a crowd gathered in the town of Nice to celebrate France's national holiday, Bastille Day.