By Rob Picheta and Nick Thompson, CNN
From CNN's Fanny Bobille in Paris
The French Council of the Muslim Faith has condemned the knife attack in the city of Nice which left three people dead.
“I strongly condemn the terrorist attack that took place near the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice. As a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims and their families, I call on the Muslims of France to cancel all the Mawlid festivities,” the council tweeted.
Mawlid is celebrated by some Muslims to mark the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.
France's anti-terror prosecutor has taken on the investigation into the knife attack in Nice, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said.
The knife attack took place in the vicinity of the city's main church, the Notre Dame Basilica.
Nice is located on France's southern coast, near Monaco and the border with Italy.
From CNN's Gaëlle Fournier in Paris
Three people are now confirmed dead – including one woman who was "decapitated" – following a terror attack in the French city of Nice, the mayor Christian Estrosi has said.
“It seems that, according to the first findings of the police, the woman who was inside the church has been decapitated. For the other victims, we cannot say anything at the moment,” he told BFM TV.
French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Nice on Thursday after participating in a crisis meeting at the Interior Ministry, the Elysee Palace has said.
The country's Prime Minister Jean Castex led lawmakers in a moment of silence at the National Assembly on Thursday morning after news of the incident broke.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, wrote on Twitter that he has spoken with Macron over the phone this morning, adding that the President passed on his thanks to local police.
From CNN's Barbara Wojazer in Paris
Two people have been killed and a third is in a life-threatening condition after a knife attack in the French city of Nice, according to local mayor Christian Estrosi.
“At this moment, we have, without any doubt, two dead inside the church, in a horrible way,” Estrosi said.
Video from the scene posted to social media showed emergency services responding to the incident.
Medics are “trying everything to save the life of a third victim who was able to flee," Estrosi said.
He said the attacker was shot by police, but is alive.
From CNN's Barbara Wojazer in Paris
Police in the French coastal city of Nice are responding to a knife attack in the vicinity of a church, which the local mayor has described as a "terrorist attack."
Mayor Christian Estrosi said the attacker has been taken into custody.
"I am on the scene with the police who arrested the attacker. Everything points to a terrorist attack," Estrosi tweeted Thursday morning.
France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he was chairing a crisis meeting at the ministry in response to the attack.
There is no official information yet on the condition of victims.