Friday, July 15, 2016

[Bouncr: 3v394] Here's What We Know About The Suspect In The Nice Attack

A French official told BuzzFeed News they are investigating whether Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, was the driver of the truck that slammed into a crowd of revelers gathered for a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice, France, killing at least 84 people, including as many as 10 children.

A French official told BuzzFeed News they are investigating whether Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, was the driver of the truck that slammed into a crowd of revelers gathered for a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice, France, killing at least 84 people, including as many as 10 children.

Luca Bruno / AP

Le Monde and other French media outlets said Bouhlel has been officially named as the suspect. Local newspaper Nice-Martin first named him.

Bouhlel, 31, who was living in Nice, was originally from Tunisia, and is reported to have worked as a delivery driver in the area surrounding Nice. The truck driver was shot and killed by police.

A preliminary investigation has not connected Bouhlel to international terror groups, a French intelligence official told BuzzFeed News, adding that Bouhlel was not on the watch lists maintained by domestic and foreign intelligence. Still, the official would not rule out that a link could develop because of the suspect's history with Tunisia.

French intelligence is in close contact with Tunisian officials and "other allied services" to build a file, and investigation is ongoing, the official told BuzzFeed News.

Two French officials told the Associated Press that that identity papers found in the truck belonged to a 31-year-old French citizen of Tunisian descent. Officials later confirmed to the AP that the ID found in the truck matched the dead attacker, though the wire service didn't report a name.

The man had previous misdemeanor convictions. He was known to authorities in relation to drugs and alcohol-related offenses, the BBC reported.

Bouhlal used to frequently visit Tunisia and last went there eight months ago, a Tunisian security force told BBC Arabic. His parents are divorced and live in France.

Christian Estrosi, the president of the region, said guns and grenades were found in the cab of the truck, though there are now unverified reports by several media outlets that these were fake or inactive.

France's BMFTV said the the attacker had been married and had three children, but was recently divorced. The AP reported he was undergoing a divorce.

France's BMFTV said the the attacker had been married and had three children, but was recently divorced. The AP reported he was undergoing a divorce.

Francois Mori / AP

Neighbors told the AP that the man hasn't lived there in three years and that his estranged wife lived there. The woman was taken away by authorities, the AP said, citing three neighbors.

Neighbours told BFMTV he was not particularly interested in religion, adding that he preferred girls and salsa.

Neighbors also told BMFTV that the man who once lived in the apartment was unhappy due to the the divorce and had financial issues. He was described as "depressed and unstable, even aggressive" of late.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.









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