Nice Bastille Day terror attacks bring back tragic reminder that France continues to live with deadly threat

THE terrorist atrocity that struck Nice's Bastille Day celebrations is the latest in a terrifying trend of attacks against French civilians.

At least 84 people were left dead when a gun-toting extremist zig-zagged a lorry through the packed crowds on the French Riviera town's promenade.

Only the intervention of armed French police stopped the tragedy claiming more lives as they sprayed the vehicle's cabin with bullets.

The attack continues a traumatic 18 months for France as it struggles to cope with the growing threat of 'lone wolf' attacks by Islamic extremists.

That threat was brought into sharp focus with November's attacks on Paris during which 130 perished.

Assault rifle-armed suicide bombers launched a triple strike against the capital's Stade de France, Bataclan theatre and a roadside cafe.

The massacre at the music venue was a tragedy that will remain ingrained in the French psyche for many years to come.

Some 89 revellers were gunned down by attackers as they watched American band Eagles of Death Metal perform.

ISIS-aligned gunmen sprayed bullets into the crowd as people fled for the exits.

Two of the attackers later detonated their suicide vests when commandos entered the building.

Dozens more were gunned down as they enjoyed leisurely meals with friends and family outside four Parisian cafes.

One more bystander was killed when suicide bombers detonated their vests around the Stade de France as the French national football team played Germany.

One of the bombers had tried to enter the stadium but was turned away.

Investigators concluded that he had intended to detonate inside the stadium prompting thousands to flee onto the street.

There, two other bombers planned to attack the panicked crowds.

Only ten months earlier satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was attack by two Islamist gunmen.

Twelve of the irreverent publication's staff were killed.

It was later revealed that the attack had been in response to the magazine's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

Gunman Amedy Coulibaly later took hostages at a Paris kosher supermarket, killing four.

The recent spate of violence had not been seen on such a large scale since 1961.

Then, the OAS, a paramilitary group fighting for Algerian independence from France, detonated a bomb on a Paris-bound train killing 28 and injuring more than 100.

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