A truck driver who killed and injured dozens in Nice, France, on Thursday has been identified as a 31-year-old French-Tunisian named Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, according to French media and CBS News. He was from the Tunisian town of Msaken, Reuters reports.
The white truck barreled into a large crowd that had gathered on a promenade to watch a Bastille Day fireworks display in the Mediterranean city. Witnesses said bodies were scattered over a mile down the road. The driver stopped and bolted out of the truck to shoot at pedestrians, according to the TV station French 24.
The attacker died during a gun battle with police. Authorities found papers identifying Bouhlel inside the truck afterward, Agence France-Press news agency reported. Police sources told the Associated Press and French media that the suspect was known for local crimes, but had no known terrorism ties.
French media reported that Bouhlel was a married father. AFP said that authorities raided his apartment, located in a middle class Nice neighborhood, on Friday morning. Neighbors told AFP that he was quiet and kept to himself.
Regional president Christian Estrosi had said that the truck was loaded with guns and grenades, though some of them were fake.
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Featured Image courtesy: Reuters
