Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May today said the country must "redouble" its efforts against terrorism in the wake of the Bastille Day attack in the French city of Nice in which at least 84 people were killed.
Downing Street said a "small number" of British citizens were injured when a Tunisian-born man ploughed a lorry through crowds in the beach town.
"If, as we fear, this was a terrorist attack then we must redouble our efforts to defeat these brutal murderers who want to destroy our way of life,"May said.
She said she would speak to French President Francois Hollande "and make clear that the United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with France today as we have done so often in the past".
A meeting has already been called of senior officials in the UK government's emergency Cobra committee to see what Britain can do to help, May indicated before heading to Scotland for Brexit talks.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he would review the capital's safety measures in light of the attack along with the Scotland Yard.
"I and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner will do everything possible to keep Londoners safe. The Met police services and security services do an amazing job every day keeping us safe. They regularly review security measures but clearly as the terrorists evolve the way they try and hurt us we've got to evolve how we keep ourselves safe.
"It's really important we don't allow these terrorists, those involved with this evil and cowardly attack, to allow them to change the way we live our lives," he said.
The National Police Chiefs' Council is asking all UK forces to review major events over the next week to ensure "appropriate" security is in place.
Boris Johnson, whose first engagement as Britain's new foreign secretary was at the French ambassador's Bastille Day party here yesterday, tweeted: "Shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice, and the terrible loss of life."
French media reports say the attacker has been identified as 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, who lived locally. The attack in Nice's Promenade des Anglais occurred at about 2300 local time during celebrations to mark Bastille Day - France's national day.
Meanwhile, May made Scotland her priority as Britain's new Prime Minister as she travelled to Edinburgh to hold talks with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The two leaders discussed the future of the UK and its relationship with the European Union (EU) after Britain voted to exit the economic bloc even though Scotland had voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining within the EU.
May left Sturgeon's official residence, Bute House, after about 45 minutes, following a meeting she described as "positive". "I'm willing to listen to options and I've been very clear with the first minister today that I want the Scottish government to be fully engaged in our discussion," she said after the meeting.
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"I have already said that I won't be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations - I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger Article 50," she added in reference to the official process that will kick-start post-Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Asked about the possibility of a second referendum on Scottish independence, May said Scottish people had sent a "very clear message" in the referendum held in 2014.
"Both the United Kingdom government and the Scottish government said they would abide by that. We now have the challenge though as the United Kingdom, to ensure that we can get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom from the EU negotiations when the UK leaves the EU. I'm very clear that the government I lead will be for all parts of the United Kingdom and for all people," she said.
Sturgeon said she was "very pleased" that May would be willing to consider any options that the Scottish government now bring forward to secure Scotland's relationship with the European Union.
"I have been very clear that we have to make sure that Scotland's interests are protected and I want to examine every option of doing that," she said.
The First Minister has said she wants to find ways to protect areas including trade, university research, the rights of workers and influence on global policy, such as climate change.
