French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, has said that investigators have not yet established whether the truck driver who killed at least 84 people late on Thursday in Nice was inspired by jihadist messages.
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While some family and friends had described the 31-year-old as someone who smoked, drank and never went to the mosque, others questioned by police indicated “a recent swing to radical Islam”, said a police source.
A man named as Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove his vehicle more than one mile along the coastal French city’s Promenade de Anglais, injuring more than 200 people and killing 84 people, including several children.
France on Saturday began three days of national mourning in homage to the victims – although that hasn’t stopped politicians from sniping at each other over who bore responsibility for the failing to stop the attack.
Police said he had no known connection to jihadist groups.
A sign posted around town demonstrates a strong feeling of solidarity, calling for blood donations, stuffed animals for injured children and a plea to “unite against the insane ones”.
French officials could not confirm on Monday that attacker Mohamed Lahouaiyej Bouhlel had been approached by an Algerian recruiter, saying that the investigation was ongoing.
Eighteen of the 85 people still in hospital are in a life-threatening condition, the country’s health minister said on Sunday.
Examinations of his computer showed he had searched for details of the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice as well as videos showing “terrible” traffic accidents.
Authorities are trying to determine if he acted alone but the country’s prime minister has said he had been radicalised quickly. Pained and outraged epitaphs are now written in blue maker on stones placed where police shot him dead.
On his phone, according to French investigators, there were homemade sex tapes and pictures filmed with both men and women.
“Jabeur has not supplied the photo he claims Bouhlel also sent him but said in it his brother seemed very happy and pleased, he was laughing a lot”.
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Reports published in the name of two Islamic State media outlets said Bouhlel was one of the group’s “soldiers”, although they did not say whether he had coordinated his plan with the group. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it’s unclear whether Bouhlel had concrete links to the group.
