French Magistrate declares Nice attack 'terrorism'

As the investigations into the Nice attack progresses, more details about Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, the truck driver to took 84 lives on Bastille day in Nice.

Speaking at a press conference, Magistrate François Molins outlined the facts that investigators have uncovered so far.

Molins confirmed that the attack was premeditated, at least up to a few days leading up to the event.

The 31-year-old Tunisian-French national had contacted a company in Saint-Laurent-du-Var on 4 July in order to book the truck for the week of 11 July.

Molins confirmed earlier reports that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel took pictures of himself hours before the attack, specifying that a number of photos extracted from his phone showing him on the main road next to the beach, in front of a truck, and on the Promenade des Anglais.

Searches into the perpetrator’s computer showed a trail of “research starting on 1 July about the festivities” in Nice, as well as research about “terrible and horrible” traffic accidents, among other things.

Moreover, Molins said that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel “seemed to be in need of money.”

“He tried to take out a consumer loan of €5,000,” Molins said, but it was reportedly denied to him on 28 June. “He also tried to withdraw €1,000 from an ATM, but could only withdraw €550,” he added. Furthermore, Lahouaiej-Bouhlel sold his car the eve of the attack.

Testimonies from various sources described Lahouaiej-Bouhlel as “distant from relgion, violent towards his wife and children, as well as of being in the habit of drinking, doing drugs, eating pork and having a rampant sex life.”

Lahouaiej-Bouhlel showed “particular interest” in Daesh, said Molins, insisting however, that it was “recent”.

“Nothing in the investigation shows that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was tied to a terrorist organisation despite the fact that Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack.”

Pointing to the fact that the assailant “grew out his beard in the last eight days,” a beard having religious significance, Molins pointed out that “radicalisation can happen much faster when it affects a disturbed person, or one fascinated by ultra-violence.”

According to Le Monde, it is normal for Daesh to accept the off-set voluntary acts of violence committed by mentally fragile individuals, with the newspaper citing the Orlando shooting of 12 June as an example.

Throughout his address, Molins referred to the act as “terrorism by proximity” as, in accordance to the French legal definition of terrorism, the Nice attack “aimed at seriously disrupting public order through intimidation and terror.”