A French soldier stands by the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice, France, after a knife attack there on Thursday, October 29.
In photos: Deadly knife attack in Nice
A French soldier stands by the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice, France, after a knife attack there on Thursday, October 29.
Eric Gaillard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 1609 GMT (0009 HKT) October 29, 2020

Three people were killed in a knife attack Thursday at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice, France.

"Everything points to a terrorist attack," Mayor Christian Estrosi tweeted from the scene.

A suspect was shot by police, but he survived and has been taken into custody, Estrosi said.

The attack comes during heightened tensions in France over radical Islamism, secularism and freedom of speech.

Nice has been the target of terror in the past. In 2016, dozens died after an ISIS-inspired attacker plowed a 20-ton truck into Bastille Day crowds.

French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, center right, visit the scene.
French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, center right, visit the scene.
Eric Gaillard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Security forces guard the area on Thursday.
Security forces guard the area on Thursday.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters
A relative of a victim reacts outside the Notre-Dame Basilica.
A relative of a victim reacts outside the Notre-Dame Basilica.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Forensics officers work at the Basilica.
Forensics officers work at the Basilica.
Eric Gaillard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Police officers stand guard near the scene of the attack.
Police officers stand guard near the scene of the attack.
Alexis Gilli/AP
A security officer guards the area.
A security officer guards the area.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters
Onlookers gather near the scene.
Onlookers gather near the scene.
Daniel Cole/AP
A woman is comforted as she kneels by a police car following the attack.
A woman is comforted as she kneels by a police car following the attack.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Forensics officers work at the site as soldiers stand guard.
Forensics officers work at the site as soldiers stand guard.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer pushes bystanders back from the area.
A police officer pushes bystanders back from the area.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
A forensics officer exits the Basilica.
A forensics officer exits the Basilica.
Eric Gaillard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
People stand behind a police cordon near the location of the attack.
People stand behind a police cordon near the location of the attack.
Daniel Cole/AP
Forensics officers arrive at the site of the attack.
Forensics officers arrive at the site of the attack.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images