EU, Canada leaders express support to France

European Union's top officials and Canian prime minister strongly condemned on Thursday dely knife attack in Nice and expressed support to France, a founding member of 27-nation bloc.

EU Council President Charles Michel, who chairs meetings of EU's 27 leers, expressed his solidarity with France, at start of press conference following an EU-Cana meeting.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he of EU's executive arm, said whole of Europe stands behind France.

"We are united and determined in face of fanaticism," she said.

Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who participated to EU-Cana video conference, also used opportunity to condemn attack in Nice.

EU leers are expected to meet later Thursday during a video conference.

An attacker armed with a knife killed three people inside a church on Thursday in sourn French city of Nice.

It was third attack in two months in France that authorities have attributed to Muslim extremists, including beheing of a teacher.

It comes during a growing furor over caricatures of Prophet Muhamm that were republished in recent months by satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo — renewing vociferous debate in France and Muslim world.