How heroes stopped a "crazy" car in France

(Baonghean.vn) - Thanks to the bravery of many police officers and the help of a citizen, they successfully stopped the attacker from driving a truck into a crowd on Promenade des Anglais, Nice, killing 84 people.

Investigators are collecting evidence from the vehicle involved in the crime. Photo: AP

After the attack in Nice on July 14, Eric Ciotti, a Republican MP for the Alpes-Maritimes region, said, "I will never forget the sight of the police stopping the killer."

In a similar statement earlier, Mr. Christian Estrosi, head of the Alpes-Maritimes region, also honored the police who prevented the attack on the evening of July 14.

The investigation is looking into the possibility of a terrorist attack. The perpetrator of the attack - Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian national - had rented a 19-ton refrigerated truck three days earlier in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, a region bordering Nice.

On the evening of Bastille Day, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove from the Magnan district to the middle of the Promenade des Anglais.

Because the road was blocked to make way for pedestrians, he drove the car onto the sidewalk, where there were no barriers, and then drove toward people who were gathered to watch the fireworks.

The vehicle created a zigzag nightmare that stretched for 1.7 km, killing 84 people and injuring dozens more.

Three Nice police officers were the first to step in to stop Bouhlel.

He fired several times at three police officers, in the Negresco Hotel area.

All three returned fire and ran more than 200 meters to catch up with the car.

At this time, the car was also blocked by a trellis placed on the sidewalk.

Bouhlel drove his car down the road in front of the Mediterranée Palace, where a large crowd had gathered. According to witnesses, this was also the place where the most people died, nearly 30 people.

A passerby jumped into the truck and grabbed the steering wheel with his bare hands. At this point, Bouhlel took out his gun and fired at the man, who had just jumped into the cabin.

When they caught up with the car, two police officers exchanged gunfire with him. Bouhlel was then killed by police bullets. It is known that the gunfight between the two police officers and Bouhlel was also supported by two groups of armed police.

At the scene, at least 50 bullet holes were found in the car. Bouhlel was found dead in the driver's seat.

Inside the cockpit, in addition to Bouhlel's identification papers, police also found a credit card.

Forensics got to work and seized everything for the investigation.

And the identity of the hero who jumped into a car and dueled with the attacker in Nice is still unknown.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Figaro)