The office did not immediately provide further information about who was in custody or why.
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“In the wake of last night’s attacks, we’ve heard more suggestions that all Muslims in America be targeted, tested for their beliefs, some deported or jailed”, Obama said.
The driver reportedly swerved the vehicle from side to side to his as many people as possible.
Three arrests were made on Saturday and two on Friday, Le Monde reported. But neighbors in the Nice neighborhood where the Bouhlel used to live told The Associated Press that his estranged wife had been taken away Friday by police.
Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, whose identity documents were found in the lorry, was known to police, but was not suspected of affiliation with jihadist organisations.
According to a report released by the terror organization ISIS, this Islamic Extremist group claims responsibility for the attack in Nice that killed 84 people.
“He carried out the operation in response to calls to target nationals of states that are part of the coalition fighting Islamic State”.
In particular the delayed nature of the statement and the lack of any accompanying propaganda – such as the group’s infamous ‘martyrdom videos where jihadis explain their motives to the camera before carrying out atrocities – suggest the group is retrospectively claiming credit rather than being involved in the planning.
Authorities have been trying to find out whether Bouhlel, a 31-year-old French citizen born in Tunisia, acted alone or with accomplices, and whether his motives were connected to radical Islam.
A French parliamentary inquiry last week criticised numerous failings by the intelligence services over the Paris attacks.
The driver’s father has said that Bouhlel had received psychiatric treatment in the past.
France was rocked by a devastating terrorist attack in November, when heavily armed suicide bombers killed 130 people in several places around Paris.
The French embassy said all were welcome to join in the minute’s silence. A makeshift memorial of bouquets, candles and messages had been set up near one end of the expansive avenue.
“He was a little bit insane”, he said, but the teenager added that he was shocked by what had happened.
The attack injured a total of 200 people and occurred following a fireworks display on Bastille Day.
France is observing three days of national mourning in honor of the victims.
“It seems he was radicalized very quickly”, Cazeneuve said following a ministerial meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
European Union flags were lowered to half mast in Brussels to honor the victims.
Italian President of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini (right) embraces French ambassador to Italy Catherine Colonna. At least 10 children were killed in the attack, with more wounded.
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At Friday’s mass, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called on people across the country not to respond to the attack through hatred themselves.
