French expats in Winnipeg 'bewildered' by deadly attack in Nice

French expats living abroad may in some cases be living thousands of kilometres from home including here in Winnipeg, but the gruesome attack in Nice, France, Thursday night sent a shockwave that was felt around the world.

Members of the Manitoba capital's French community are still reeling after 84 people were killed and scores more were critically injured when a truck plowed through a crowd of Bastille Day revellers in Nice.

"I feel bewildered. You just can't believe it's true, that it's possible,"François Legoupil, who has called Winnipeg home for 15 years, said Friday.

The French language teacher and translator said he feels gripped by an element of disbelief.

"It's kind of out of this world," he added.

'From here, you can't do anything'

Nathalie Gauthier, owner of A L'Epi de Blé bakery in Winnipeg, is also from France but lives in Winnipeg.

"From here, you can't do anything," Gauthier said. "I would say 'solidaire' with other people."

Gauthier said she felt overcome with anger upon first hearing about the truck attack in France and is still processing the news.

Hundreds of people taking in fireworks and ringing in the French holiday along Nice's Promenade des Anglais were hit mid-celebration. French police confirmed Tunisian-born Frenchman Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhle, 31, was shot to death by authorities after driving a heavy truck two kilometres through the crowd at high speeds, injuring a total of 202 people.

• Truck plows into Bastille Day crowd in Nice, France, 84 dead
• 'We will stand against it': Bastille Day celebrations in Winnipeg continue in light of Nice attack

Fabienne Boulanger, the owner of Le Croissant bakery in St. Boniface, said the violent attack in her homeland was painful enough, but the fact that it happened on July 14 made it particularly tragic.

"A lot of people are there to see fireworks, a lot of kids. It's a great night and it's full of people over there," Boulanger said, adding it's tragic that such an attack is "happening again."

This is the third deadly attack in France in the past year and a half. Two attacks in 2015 left a total of 147 people dead.​

Fear for loved ones

Erwan Bouchaud moved from France to Winnipeg 10 years ago. His biggest concern initially was whether anyone he knew was harmed. Then, a feeling of deep sadness set in.

We just have to continue living and hope nothing bad happens.- Fabienne Boulanger

"My first thoughts were for my friends and family living in France, and are on holidays in the south of France, who might have been there," Bouchard said. "It's not the first time that such terrible events happened in France, that people are losing lives, losing people that they love."

Nice is a popular tourist destination for international travellers as well as people in France.

Boulanger made plans to fly home with her family next week prior to the attack. The thought of travelling home right now is unnerving, she said.

"I'm a little bit scared, of course, because I am going with my kids," she said.

"But I always say, 'This won't stop me from travelling to France, go see the family, enjoy the beautiful country. I am going anyway. We know it can happen anywhere, anytime and in any place. We just have to continue living and hope nothing bad happens."

No Canadians have been reported among the casualties so far.

Hollande has declared a three-day period of mourning in France.