A terrorist who used a hired lorry to kill at least 84 people in a
rampage during Bastille Day celebrations in Nice has been named
as a convicted criminal well known to the police for armed
attacks.
Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old delivery
driver described as a "weird loner" who "became depressed"
when his wife left him, was reported to be a French passport
holder who lived in the Riviera city and was regularly in trouble
with the law.
At least 10 children are among the dead following the "cowardly
and barbaric" atrocity that left at least one British national among
the many injured. Officials feared the death toll will rise, as
dramatic footage emerged of the mass killer being shot dead by
police in the cab of his truck.
As hundreds remained in hospital - including 18 fighting for their
lives in intensive care - investigators have been searching the
home of Bouhlel in the Abattoirs area of Nice and carried out a
controlled explosion on a white box van nearby.
The driver reportedly zig-zagged his way through the crowds
along the promenade CREDIT:MATRIXPICTURES.CO.UK
Investigating sources said Bouhlel's last appearance in a criminal
court was as recently as March, when he was found guilty of
violent contact. Despite this, he had no known links with
terrorism and was not under surveillance.
An investigating source said: "An operation is currently underway
at the dead suspect’s home in Nice. It is being raided by officers."
Neighbours described him as a "very weird loner" and father of
three who had recently become estranged from his wife and had
become depressed following the breakdown of his marriage.
A woman living in the same shabby apartment block as Bouhel
today told how he "seemed very weird". She told The Telegraph:
"He lived alone. He said very little to anyone and wasn’t very
polite. He wouldn’t hold the door open for you."
Watch the moment police surround and shoot Nice terror attacker
Mohamed Lahouaiej BouhlelPlay!01:17
Bouhel left his French identity card in the hired 19-tonne lorry
used to murder dozens of people on Thursday night.
His truck had zigzagged through crowds massing on the
Promenade des Anglais, killing anyone he could .
French police forces and forensic officers stand next to a truck
that ran into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day CREDIT: ERIC
GAILLARD
After being stopped by armed police, who fired bullets into the
lorry’s windscreen, the so far unnamed man exchanged fire with
officers using a 7.65 pistol, before being shot dead.
Comments