Paris Prosecutor: Five Suspects Linked to Nice Attacker

François Molins, the Paris prosecutor, states that the perpetrator of the Nice massacre, who drove a truck into a crowd, had "long-term planning for his attack" and at least five individuals are currently suspected of aiding or collaborating with him. Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, on July 14, drove a truck into a crowd gathered to watch the national celebration of "Bastille Day"; the attack has so far left 84 dead, including 10 children. The latest reports from the investigation indicate that Bouhlel had likely been monitoring "Bastille Day" since 2015. According to AFP, some details suggest he had become "interested in jihad." However, many individuals interviewed by the police described the Nice attacker as someone with significant psychological issues. Many have stated he was not religious, ate pork, drank alcohol, used drugs, and had "unrestrained" sexual activities. Meanwhile, while the Islamic State claims Bouhlel was one of its "soldiers," no evidence has been found to indicate a direct link between him and ISIS. The family of this Tunisian-French national, who has been living in France since 2005, stated that he was a violent individual and likely suffered from a mental disorder. The individuals suspected of aiding or collaborating with Bouhlel include Ramzi A., Artan H. and his wife, Shukri S., as well as Mohamed Walid G. Ramzi, Shukri, and Mohamed Walid have Tunisian backgrounds, while Artan and his wife are of Albanian descent. Artan is the one who provided a handgun to Bouhlel. The Nice attacker was armed with a handgun. He was ultimately shot and killed by police after the attack. Current investigations indicate that Ramzi received a message from Bouhlel thanking him for the handgun. Ramzi is the only suspect known to the police, with a history of theft and drug-related charges. Shukri had left a message on Bouhlel's Facebook saying, "Fill the truck with two thousand tons of iron... pull the handbrake down, my friend, and I will watch you." Additionally, there is a video showing Shukri and Bouhlel in the truck before the attack. Mohamed Walid, another suspect, is a 40-year-old who had been in regular contact with the Nice attacker over the past year. After the attack on the satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo" by extremists, he had stated, "I am glad that Allah's soldiers were sent to finish the job." A photo of Mohamed Walid also exists in the truck used in the attack. Neither Mohamed Walid nor Shukri had any prior records and were not under surveillance. Previously, French media reported the arrest of seven individuals in connection with the Nice attack. Bouhlel's wife, who was previously detained, was released without any charges being filed against her.