Nice Attacker Showed ‘Clear Interest’ in Jihad: Investigators

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins has confirmed that the attack that killed 84 people was “premeditated.”

The truck used in the attack on Thursday night in Nice, France. (Photo: The Quint)

The truck driver who caused carnage in the French city of Nice, killing 84 people, showed “recent interest” in jihadist activity, investigators said on Monday, four days after the attack shook the world.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said that although there was no evidence of Bouhlel’s allegiance to ISIS but a search of his computer “showed a clear, recent interest for the radical jihadist movement.” He also confirmed the attack was “premeditated.”  

In the two weeks prior to the attack Bouhlel researched about ISIS videos and readings from the Quran on the internet, he added.

Bouhlel also researched about the Orlando attack which killed 49 people last month. His computer contained pictures of corpses and fighters posing with the ISIS flag.

Molins also revealed that people who knew him described him as “someone who did not practise the Muslim religion, ate pork, drank alcohol, took drugs and had an unbridled sexual activity.”

About eight months ago ago, however, he stopped shaving his beard. On the day of the attack he appeared to have spent much of the national holiday on the promenade, taking selfies, Molins added.

This revelation comes after the uncle of the truck driver said his nephew was indoctrinated about two weeks ago by an Algerian member of the Islamic State group in Nice.

French officials could not confirm on Monday that attacker Mohamed Lahouaiyej Bouhlel had been approached by an Algerian recruiter, saying that the investigation is ongoing.

ISIS claimed responsibility for last week’s attack, though Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that investigators have found no sign yet that Bouhlel had connections with radical Islamists.

We have an individual who was not known to intelligence services for activities linked to radical Islam.

Bernard Cazeneuve, French Interior Minister

A body of a victim lies next to a doll post the Nice truck attack. (Photo: Reuters)

The driver’s uncle, Sadok Bouhlel, told Associated Press that given Bouhlel’s family problems – he was estranged from his wife and three children – the Algerian “found in Mohamed an easy prey for recruitment.”

The uncle said he learned about the Algerian recruiter from extended family members who live in Nice.

Sadok is devastated by his nephew’s act, and doesn’t want him buried in Msaken. “He made more than 80 families grieve, and stained the reputation of our town and our country,” he said.

Many of the dead and injured were children watching a fireworks display with their families.

Bouhlel’s rapid radicalization has puzzled investigators. Friends and family said he had not been an observant Muslim in the past.

“Mohamed didn’t pray, didn’t go to the mosque and ate pork,” said Sadok Bouhlel, a 69-year-old retired teacher, in the driver’s hometown of Msaken, Tunisia.

Mohamed Mondher Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, father of 31-year-old Bouhlel, had also said earlier that his son “had no links to religion.”

“He didn’t pray, he didn’t fast, he drank alcohol and even used drugs. We are also shocked,” he said.

Pointing out that his son suffered from depression, culminating in a nervous breakdown, Mondher said:

From 2002 to 2004, he had problems that caused a nervous breakdown. He would become angry and he shouted ... he would break anything he saw in front of him.

Mohamed Mondher Lahouaiej-Bouhlel

Mondher also emphasised his lack of contact with Bouhlel once he moved out of Tunisia.

When he left for France, we heard nothing more from him.

Cazeneuve said 59 people are still hospitalized after the attack on Thursday, 29 of them in intensive care, out of 308 people injured overall. France held a moment of silence on Monday to remember the victims.

Thousands of people massed on the waterfront promenade where the Bastille Day celebrations became a killing field on Thursday night. Among the mourners was Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who was loudly booed as he arrived at and left the ceremony in Nice. President Francois Hollande’s Socialist administration has come under blistering criticism from opposition conservatives after last week’s deadly attack.

(With inputs from PTI, South China Morning Post and AP.)

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