The man behind the wheel: Three things to know about Lahouaiej-Bouhlel
1
Record of petty crime
The attacker who drove a heavy truck into crowds in the French city of Nice killing at least 84 people came from the Tunisian town of Msaken, which he last visited four years ago, Tunisian security sources said. The Franco-Tunisian man was identified by French police as 31-yearold Mohammad Lahouaiej Bouhlel, and was not known by the Tunisian or French intelligence to hold extremist views. However, he was known to police in connection with common law crimes such as theft and violence. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was married and had three children. Msaken is about 10km outside the city of Sousse. 2
Described as a loner
Neighbours of Lahouaiej-Bouhlel described him as a loner with no visible affiliation, as forensic experts searched his flat. They portrayed him as a solitary figure who rarely spoke and did not return greetings when their paths crossed in the four-storey block, located in a working-class neighbourhood of Nice. Sebastien, a neighbour, said Bouhlel did not seem overtly religious and often dressed in shorts. He had a van parked nearby and owned a bike, which he brought up into his first-floor apartment. Another neighbour said he was “a good-looking man who kept giving my two daughters the eye.” 3
Former wife questioned
Police investigators and forensic experts entered Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s apartment at around 0730 GMT yesterday, with an armed police intervention unit as support, and brought out bags of material later. His former wife was also held for questioning yesterday. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was allegedly driving the white 19-tonne truck that slammed into the crowd on Nice’s beachfront. A source said an “inactive” grenade was found inside the vehicle, as well as several fake rifles. An investigation is under way to establish if he had accomplices.