Possible accomplices in Nice attack

(Baonghean.vn)- French police sources said on July 15 that police had summoned and questioned the ex-wife of Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who was identified as the perpetrator of the terrorist attack by truck in the city of Nice, southern France on the night of July 14, killing at least 84 people and injuring hundreds, including more than 50 people in critical condition.

People in many cities across France have laid flowers and candles to express their condolences to the victims of the massacre in Nice. Photo: Telegraph.

Investigators are trying to determine Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's motive for the attack, as well as searching for possible accomplices of the killer.

Meanwhile, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said some of the city's nearly 1,200 security cameras captured the moment the attacker climbed into a truck and drove toward a crowd leaving after watching a fireworks display to celebrate France's National Day (July 14).

Police must always be on high alert. Photo: AFP

Mr. Estrosi said that through security cameras, investigators should consider the possibility of accomplices involved in this bloody attack.

Mr. Estrosi said that the attack could not have been planned by Bouhlel alone, but that there were certainly accomplices behind it. He also said that more than 10 children were among the dead and urged the French government to consider applying additional anti-terrorism security measures after this attack.

Regarding the perpetrator of the horrific massacre, Bouhel's neighbors described him as a handsome man with an athletic build but "a scary look". According to his neighbor in the northern Nice area where he lived: "He didn't have a scary face but a scary look. He would stare at children for a long time." However, according to this person, Bouhel did not show signs of extremist ideology.

He was first convicted in March of causing injury to another driver by arguing with him. He was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to contact police once a week.

Bouhel was separated from his wife, with whom he had three children. A former neighbor of Bouhel in his hometown of M'saken, 120km south of Tunis, said he had moved to France in 2005 after getting married and working as a driver. Many residents of M'saken moved to Nice, where the Tunisian community now numbers around 130,000.

Bouhel last visited his homeland in 2012. Bouhel has had a residence permit in France for the past 10 years without applying for French citizenship.

Bouhel's twin brother, Jabeur, still can't believe his brother was the culprit behind the "crazy" driving incident in Nice.

“How could Bouhel do such a thing? We have been calling him since last night (July 14) but he did not answer the phone.”

The peaceful city of Nice has become the target of cold-blooded terrorists. Photo: AFP

So far, according to the latest information from Prosecutor Francois Molins, the death toll remains at 84 people, 202 people were injured, of which 52 are in critical condition. The motive for the crime has not yet been confirmed.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that there will be more terrorist attacks using trucks as a means of committing crimes like the one above.

Lan Ha

(According to The Guardian)