Wrap-up: Terror rocks France, again

Awhite 19-tonne rented refrigerator truck ploughed into Nice’s crowded seafront around 10.45 pm on Thursday. A 30,000-strong crowd had gathered on the glitzy beachfront avenue, the Promenade des Anglais, to watch a firework show for France’s national day. The truck ploughed two kilometres through the crowd, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters. Anti-terror prosecutor Francois Molins said the driver fired “several times” on three police officers as they tried to bring the truck to a halt and eventually shot him dead.

Molins named the driver as a 31-year-old Tunisian, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who lived in Nice and was described by neighbours as a loner who never responded to their greetings. His identity papers were found in the truck, along with a pistol and ammunition and a number of fake weapons including two replica assault rifles. His body was found on the passenger seat, said the prosecutor. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack.

Anti-terrorism prosecutor Francois Molins said the 31-year-old Tunisian was “completely unknown” to the intelligence services but that the assault was “exactly in line with” calls from jihadist groups to kill.

The attack left a scene of carnage on Nice’s picturesque Promenade des Anglais, with mangled bodies strewn over the palm-fringed walkway. At least 10 children and teenagers were among the dead.