Nice terror attack: Police vans blocking promenade were withdrawn hours before 84 people killed by truck, it is revealed, as more details about terrorist emerge.


French authorities withdrew police vans blocking off the promenade in Nice just hours before a 19-ton truck crushed at least 84 people to death in an Islamist terrorist attack, it emerged last night.

The disclosure raises serious questions over the security for the 30,000 people who had gathered on the Promenade des Anglais for the Bastille Day fireworks.

Just 60 officers were on duty, despite France being on heightened alert and concern that Nice was a likely target for attack because of the large number of jihadists from the city who had already travelled to Syria.

Four police vans that had blocked off the Promenade des Anglais to protect a military parade earlier in the day were removed before the attack on Thursday, according to eyewitnesses.
In a pessimistic interview with the Journal du Dimanche, Manual Valls, the French Prime Minister, has warned that terrorism will be a part of the country's daily life for a long time.

“The terrorism threat is will be a fundamental and enduring problem and other lives will be wrecked,” he said.
Yesterday, the self-styled Isil claimed responsibility for the attack. It said that Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel “carried out the operation in response to calls to target nationals of states fighting Islamic State”.

Police are trying to piece together Bouhlel’s terror network as they questioned five suspected associates after raids across Nice.

The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said the attacker “appears to have become radicalised very quickly”. One neighbour of his estranged wife said: “Mohamed only started visiting a mosque in April.”

Bouhlel, who had a history of violence and mental health problems, had walked into a van rental office and said: “I want the heaviest truck you have.” He had also sent £82,000 to his family in Tunisia, suggesting a well planned suicide mission.

ISIS has already claimed responsibility

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/17/nice-terror-attack-police-vans-blocking-promenade-withdrawn-hour1/