Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said analysis of Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s phone showed he was in contact with Mohamed Walid G – who has been charged as an accomplice – for 15 years.
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Prosecutor Francois Molins said the five suspects now in custody face preliminary terrorism charges for their alleged roles in helping 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel in the July 14 attack in the southern French city.
Many people interviewed by investigators described the Tunisian father of three as “someone who did not practise the Muslim religion, ate pork, drank alcohol, took drugs and had an unbridled sexual activity”, Molins said earlier this week. The fingerprints of one, identified as Chokri C., were found on the door of the truck Bouhlel used as a weapon of terror, Molins said. Although of Tunisian descent, Bouhlel was born and raised in France had a background of petty-criminality; however, he did not have a background with militant Islam and was unknown to secret services. Investigators are now examining whether the men had connections to Islamic State or other extremist groups, Molins said.
A chilling audio message recorded by Bastille Day killer Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel suggests a second atrocity was being planned for August, French prosecutors fear.
He said the five will be presented before anti-terrorism judges on Thursday and that he would recommend they be charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, along with other crimes.
Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was shot dead by police and all of the names mentioned in phone messages recovered by investigators are covered by the four men – including Tunisian Chokri C – and one women who have been charged.
Even as he set off for his massacre, Lahouaiej Bouhlel sent two pre-recorded messages – which Molins described as “odious” – to his accomplices, in one of which the attacker thanked a man for a gun.
Authorities in Nice are protesting against a request from French anti-terror police to delete surveillance camera images of last week’s deadly truck attack, amid growing questions over the scale of the police presence at the time.
One of the Tunisian men was photographed inside the leased truck, which was used in the attack, on two separate occasions (three days and one day before it happened).
Speaking from Ireland, French President Francois Hollande said the inquiry was to seek answers about whether security plans were sufficient, but called for calm. Using witness statements and photos, Liberation showed on Thursday that only one local police vehicle was stationed at the entrance to the Nice boulevard on July 14.
The prosecutor said on Thursday that photos on his phone showed he had already staked out the same Jul 14 event in Nice a year ago.
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On Thursday, the senate was set to pass a bill extending the state of emergency, which gives police extra powers to carry out searches and place people under house arrest, for six months.
