The Nice attack

At least 84 have died in the seaside French city of Nice, there are reportedly around 50 children injured in hospital and numerous other casualties. The weapon of choice in this instance was a large white lorry that was driven indiscriminately, swerving from side to side to maximize casualties, which brought carnage to 2km of the Promenade des Anglais as Bastille Day celebrations reached their height. The driver, now identified as a Franco-Tunisian, was eventually shot dead by the police and the incident ended leaving France once again shocked to its very core. The driver had a record as a petty criminal but was not on the radar as a potential terrorist or extremist. It is reported that he had guns and grenades in the lorry and that at the end he exchanged fire with the police. His apartment has been identified and neighbours have expressed astonishment.



There has been no claim of responsibility by any organisation. At the time of writing it is not possible to say definitively that this is a terrorist incident, and as ever it is unwise to jump to conclusions on the basis of scanty evidence, but the incident is congruent with well publicised Islamic State tactics that urge individuals to use their own vehicles in such a way. There have been at least three small-scale attacks in France using this methodology.

If this was indeed a terrorist attack then it is of the type most feared by security and intelligence services — the lone wolf. A person who is self-radicalised, in some instances via the internet, and who is able to mount a deadly attack using just the resources at their own disposal. They are not a member of any network, there is no ‘chatter’ that can be intercepted, there is going to be no security breach (unless they speak of their intent to another) and they formulate their plans in isolation. The Nice attacker may fit this profile. There has been condemnation and condolences for the French people from around the world none of which is going to comfort the injured and the yet-to-die. On the day that France celebrated Liberte, Egalitie and Fraternitie it again finds itself weeping, almost certainly not for the last time.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.