Local French Reaction To Nice Attack

CHARLOTTE, NC– “I started calling everybody that I knew that I knew was there,” said Christiane Mountcastle.

Christiane Mountcastle has lived in the U.S for decades, but her heart, family and friends are still in Nice where she grew up. Most years she returned for Bastille Day celebrations on the Promenade.

“We always go that is something that goes back you go and bring your picnic on the beach and you wait and it’s the Ohhh and the Ahhh,” said Mountcastle.

Her family is all safe but friends described the horror scene.

“People were running and taking shelter in the restaurants in the stores,” said Mountcastle.

Sylvain Rivet owns Renaissance Patisseire on South Boulevard. He says the attack is personal to all Nicoise even those living thousands of miles away.

“Right on Bastille Day the national French Day and believe me this morning I’m opening my store with sadness, frustrating, I’m asking myself why,” said Rivet.

His teenaged daughter was supposed to be traveling to Nice, thankfully she wasn’t there.

“It can be anywhere , it can be anytime can be you go I go on vacation in France,” said Rivet.

Both Rivet and Mountcastle say they mourn for their country, but know the French will overcome.

Rivet says he will be making native Nice special cakes all weekend and all the funds from every slice bought will go to Nice.