Seven Arrested in Connection with Nice Massacre

French media report that seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack by a truck driver on a crowd in Nice, which resulted in the deaths of 84 people. The police have not yet found significant evidence linking the attacker directly to the 'Islamic State' group. According to a report by Agence France-Presse on July 18, the attacker, identified as a Tunisian-French named 'Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel', expressed satisfaction in a text message sent prior to the attack about 'buying a 7.65mm handgun'. An Albanian citizen suspected of selling this handgun to Bouhlel has been arrested in Nice; in addition, six others are currently in custody. Meanwhile, the network 'France24' reports that his wife, who was interrogated, has been released without any charges against her. Agence France-Presse also cited a source close to the investigation stating that the attacker took a 'selfie' next to the truck he used just days before the attack. Friends and relatives of the attacker describe him as someone who drank heavily and never went to the mosque. On the other hand, a police source stated that some others questioned mentioned he had 'recently leaned towards extremist Islam'. According to the news agency, those who knew Bouhlel described him as having a history of depression and violence. 'France24' and Agence France-Presse report that no direct link has yet been found between the attacker and the 'Islamic State' group, which had previously claimed responsibility for the attack. Edwin Bakker, a professor at the Terrorism and Counterterrorism Center at Leiden University, told 'France24' that the group's claim does not necessarily indicate a direct connection to the attacker. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve had previously stated that 'it seems [Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel] radicalized very quickly'. Reports indicate that the identification process for the victims is proceeding slowly. According to the French Ministry of Health, a total of 84 people have died as a result of Bouhlel's attack in Nice. 85 others are still hospitalized, with 18 of them in critical condition. However, only 52 of the deceased have been officially identified, and there are still individuals who have not heard from their friends and relatives. On July 18, the identity of the third American victim in Nice was confirmed; a 20-year-old student who had been missing since the day of the attack. Tourists from Ukraine, Switzerland, Germany, and Russia are also among the deceased. At least 10 of the victims of the Nice massacre were children. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, currently, 100,000 personnel, from gendarmes to police and soldiers, are being used to protect citizens. The French Interior Minister called for young people and 'patriots' to join reserve operational forces to enhance security in the country.