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The Nice Terror Attack: A Tragic Night of Violence and Horror

On the night of 14 July 2016, France was celebrating its national day, Bastille Day, with fireworks and festivities across the country. In Nice, a popular tourist destination on the Mediterranean coast, thousands of people gathered on the Promenade des Anglais, a long seaside boulevard, to watch the spectacle.

But the joy and excitement soon turned into fear and panic, as a 19-tonne cargo truck plowed into the crowd at high speed, killing 86 people and injuring more than 400 others. The driver was Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian who had been living in France for several years. He was shot dead by police after a brief exchange of gunfire.

The attack was one of the deadliest and most shocking acts of terrorism in France's history, and it sparked a nationwide state of emergency, a wave of grief and solidarity, and a renewed debate on security and integration.

Who was behind the attack?

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Lahouaiej-Bouhlel answered its "calls to target citizens of coalition nations that fight the Islamic State". However, French authorities said they found no direct links between Lahouaiej-Bouhlel and IS, and that he acted alone.

Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was born in Tunisia in 1985 and moved to France in 2005. He worked as a delivery driver and had a history of petty crime and domestic violence. He was not known to the intelligence services as a radical Islamist, but he had shown signs of mental instability and had searched online for information on jihad and mass killings.

According to prosecutors, Lahouaiej-Bouhlel planned the attack for months and had help from accomplices. Eight suspects were arrested and charged with criminal terrorist conspiracy, complicity in murder, or supplying illegal weapons to Lahouaiej-Bouhlel. They are currently on trial in Paris.

How did the attack unfold?

The attack took place around 22:30 local time (20:30 GMT), shortly after the fireworks display ended. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove his rented truck onto the Promenade des Anglais from a side street, then accelerated and swerved to hit as many people as possible.

He drove for about 2 km (1.2 miles) along the boulevard, mowing down pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Some people tried to stop him by throwing objects at him or jumping onto the truck, but he fired shots at them with a pistol.

He was eventually stopped by police near the Palais de la Méditerranée hotel, where he engaged in a shootout with officers. He was killed by multiple gunshots.

What was the impact of the attack?

The attack left a trail of death and destruction along the Promenade des Anglais. Among the victims were 15 children and teenagers, 10 Muslims, and 38 foreigners from 19 countries. The youngest victim was two years old and the oldest was 92.

The attack also traumatized hundreds of survivors and witnesses, many of whom suffered from physical injuries or psychological distress. Some developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or survivor's guilt.

The attack provoked an outpouring of emotion and solidarity from across France and around the world. Thousands of people gathered in Nice and other cities to pay tribute to the victims, laying flowers, candles, messages, and flags. Many also expressed defiance against terrorism and support for democratic values.

The attack also prompted a political response from the French government, which extended the state of emergency that had been declared after the November 2015 Paris attacks for another six months. It also intensified its airstrikes against IS targets in Syria and Iraq, and deployed thousands of extra police and soldiers to secure public places.

The attack also raised questions about France's security measures, its immigration policies, its social cohesion, and its role in fighting terrorism. Some critics accused the government of failing to prevent the attack or to protect its citizens. Some also blamed Islam or radicalization for the violence. Others called for more dialogue and integration among different communities.

Five years after the attack, France is still grappling with these issues, as it faces new threats from terrorism and extremism. The trial of Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's alleged accomplices is expected to last until December 2021. It is

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