Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel

Lore & Background

Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was born in M'saken, Tunisia, and moved to Nice in 2005, where he worked as a delivery-truck driver. He trained in martial arts, frequented salsa night clubs, and had an 'unbridled sex life.' He was married with three children but was divorcing. He had financial difficulties and was fired in January 2016 after falling asleep at the wheel of a van. His father said he suffered from depression, drank alcohol, and used drugs, and his sister said he had seen psychologists for years. His family insisted the attack 'had nothing to do with religion,' stating he did not pray or observe Ramadan. He was described as 'mentally unstable' with a tumultuous personal life, including drug use and consumption of violent online content. Police found photos of dead bodies, images linked to radical Islamism, and searches for Quran verses and 'nasheeds' on his computer. He was known to police for five prior criminal offenses, including armed violence, and was on probation at the time of the attack. He was not registered as a national security risk.

Reader's Guide

Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's attack on 14 July 2016 in Nice, France, killed 86 people and injured 458, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in French history. The attack bore 'the hallmarks of jihadist terrorism,' according to a French prosecutor, but a preliminary investigation did not connect him to any international terror groups. The Amaq News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic State, called him 'one of the soldiers of Islamic State,' though his family and some officials noted his lack of prior religious piety. French authorities stated he radicalized very quickly, growing a beard in the days before the attack and expressing support for the Islamic State. His case highlighted the challenge of detecting 'lone wolf' attackers who may not be on intelligence databases. The attack prompted debates about security, immigration, and the nature of radicalization in Europe.

Did You Know?

• He sent €97,000–€100,000 to relatives in Tunisia just days before the attack.
• He had an affair with a 73-year-old man, according to phone records.
• He researched the Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen before the attack.
• He was not registered as a national security risk by French authorities.