Police have made more arrests as text messages reveal the attacker did not work alone. France is holding a national moment of silence for 84 people killed by a truck rampage in Nice, and thousands of people are massed on the waterfront promenade where Bastille Day celebrations became a killing field.
Advertisement
At least 10 children were among the dead as well as tourists from the United States, Ukraine, Switzerland Germany and about 10 from Russia, a local Russian association said. While he had a record of being a petty criminal, Lahouaiej-Bouhlel had never appeared on the radar of intelligence services for links to radical Islam.
Officers say the phone is proving more important in their investigations than the seven suspects they have in custody in relation to the attack.
With the government having declared three days of mourning for the nation’s loss, questions are being asked about the fact that attacks are becoming seemingly regular.
Seven people in the entourage or connected to Bouhlel have been arrested over the week-end. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s estranged wife was released after two days of questioning.
Advertisement
The Islamic State organisation claimed him as one of its volunteers but no evidence has so far emerged that he had any contact with the terrorist group. “The deliberate use of a heavy truck targeting a crowd illustrates the demonstrability of the attack and could be the precursor for other attacks”.
