Charter flight brings Slovaks from Nice, Hollande postpones visit

After the fatal terrorist attack in Nice on July 14 evening which left 84 people dead, a total of 36 Slovaks and one Czech Republic national returned prematurely from France to Slovakia on July 16.

Slovaks arrive at Bratislaav airport on July 16 from the terorrism-stricken city of Nice.Slovaks arrive at Bratislaav airport on July 16 from the terorrism-stricken city of Nice. (Source: TASR)

The charter flight was despatched by Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák in the wake of the attack.

“We didn’t want to stay there anymore,” a woman from Bernolákovo (Bratislava region) who was with her family a few metres from the attack site told the TASR newswire. “The atmosphere is chilly, the Promenade (des Anglais) shut down and people are being expelled from the beach. Fortunately, we were already on the hotel balcony (during the attack). It was only the day after that the whole thing started to dawn on us.”

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Nice is currently an empty city, according to another holidaymaker. “People are in tears,” she claimed. “The Europe that we’re living in is different from what it used to be some 10-20 years ago,” said Peter, who works in France and plans to return there soon.

French President Francois Hollande scrapped his planned visit to Slovakia on July 20, due to the Nice attack, press attaché of the French Embassy to Slovakia Didier Rogasik informed TASR on July 18. 

Read also: Slovak politicians express regret and solidarity over Nice attacks Read more 

 

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