US President Barack Obama condemned “what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack”, although no group claimed responsibility for the incident. Authorities had not previously identified him as a possible security threat.
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Cazeneuve tried to defend his police force’s record, but his words rang hollow.
About 25 minutes before the July 14 fireworks show – which commemorated Bastille Day, France’s national holiday – Bouhlel drove toward the city centre.
Right-leaning parties have accused the French government of being remiss in security measures leading up to the attack, but Stéphane Le Foll, the chief government spokesperson, has rejected that criticism.
The eight-month-old rolled away in his blue pram when the lorry mounted the pavement and killed people who had gathered to watch a display of fireworks celebrating Bastille Day.
“I only saw him four times, saying “hello” and “goodbye”, said Melissa.
The Islamic State group on Saturday claimed the attack was carried out by one of its “soldiers” inspired by its calls for civilians to be targeted, though it didn’t name Bouhlel in its statement.
The extremist organization said he carried out the operation in response to its calls to target citizens in “Crusader states”, according to Rita Katz, director of the USA -based SITE intelligence group that monitors terrorist activity.
Until now the portrait of Bouhlel that has emerged suggests a troubled, angry man with little interest in the group’s ultra-puritanical brand of Islam.
Bouhlel’s father told French television that the family had sought medical treatment after his son had a breakdown.
“It seems that he was radicalised very quickly – in any case these are the elements that have come up from the testimony of the people around him”, Cazeneuve told reporters.
If confirmed as a terror attack, it would be the third major strike against France in less than 18 months and prosecutors said anti-terrorist investigators would handle the probe.
The latest arrests, following the detention earlier of two other people, including Bouhlel’s wife, were members of his “close entourage”, police said, according to Reuters.
A newly Wednesday couple places flowers at a makeshift memorial on the pavement at the Promenade des Anglais inNice on July 16, 2016 in tribute to the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack. A makeshift memorial of bouquets, candles and messages was set up near one end of the expansive avenue.
“The world mustn’t stop”, he said. “My gut feeling is that you would have in excess of 200 at least, with more police in reserve” to intervene if necessary. Stephanie Simpson from the Lenval Children’s Hospital said it had treated 30 children on the night of the massacre, according to French site Nice-Matin.
Authorities said they found identity papers belonging to a 31-year-old French-Tunisian citizen in the truck, as well as “guns” and “larger weapons”. The grandson, one of the dead, was a high school teacher at Lycee de Recollets. “We join the family in their enormous pain and distress”.
Since 2010 Bouhlel also had a history of threatening behaviour, theft, property damage and violence towards his wife, but was never incarcerated.
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Charlton reported from Paris.
