A video showing an Islamist extremist driving his truck into a crowd in Nice, killing 86 people as France was celebrating its national day, sparked fear and terror at Thursday’s attack trial.

Tunisian man Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, was killed by police after a four-minute rampage at the Promenade des Anglais seafront, where thousands of locals and tourists were celebrating July 14, or Bastille Day in 2016.

The footage, which has never been shown publicly, was presented as evidence in the trial of eight people suspected of having aided or known to Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s intentions.

Witnesses and survivors gasped in horror as the screen filled with people mowed down by the criss-crossing vehicle, their bodies broken and crushed under its wheels.

Presiding judge Laurent Raviot had warned the courtroom that the images filmed by a bystander were “terrifying”.

As the lights dimmed for the screening, a sharp inhalation rippled through the courtroom, followed by several screams of pain.

Veronique Marchand, a 79-year-old woman whose husband died in the attack, screamed and left the room. Her screams continued to be heard in the corridor through the closed doors.

Another woman among the plaintiffs also left the room, having burst into tears just as footage showed the killer turning his truck from side to side in an attempt to mow down as many people as possible.

Another scene shows a jazz band finishing their performance and then the truck plowing through from behind into the applauding audience, unaware of the mortal danger until it was too late.

“I think now that I shouldn’t have seen that,” said Jean-Claude Hubler, president of the Life for Nice survivors’ association, after the lights came on, tearing his face with shock and sadness.

“It’s hard to see, but it happened,” said another man.

The judge ordered all smartphones and laptops to be turned off during the viewing, including those of reporters.

Seven psychologists were present to help those under duress, as well as firefighters and police officers.

Some of the accused watched the footage of the massacre, others looked at the ground.

The video was sealed again as evidence immediately after the screening and may not be shown again.

The seven men and one woman standing trial in Paris are charged with crimes ranging from knowing the killer’s intentions to providing logistical support and supplying weapons.

Only one suspect, Ramzi Kevin Arefa, faces the maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted as a repeat offender. The others face between five and 20 years in prison.

The trial, scheduled to last until December 16, is the latest court hearing into the spate of Islamist attacks that has swept France since 2015.