The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.Truck attacker kills at least 84, injures scores during Bastille Day celebration in Nice
By Sophie Sassard and Michel Bernouin NICE, France©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
124 Comments
Login to comment
kurisupisu
Terrorism!
Laguna
Terrible. NHK just noted the toll has surpassed 60.
bass4funk
Terrible! it looks like close to 73 people dead so far, but not confirmed.
CrazyJoe
My heart goes out to all the victims' families. So tragic.
Louis Amsel
The 3rd terrorist attacks in France this year...
MarkG
Radical Islam must stop. 4 terrorist attacks in Europe this year. 75+ today. All innocent.
goldorak
This one hurts even more as there is a sense of helplessness and powerlessness about it: how do you fight or prevent nuttas from doing this? No high tech nor highly organised terror cell required, just a man and a truck.
Goodlucktoyou
Seventy three families will be affected for ever. The injured will never forget. Violence must stop everywhere. No drones, no suicide bombs, just happy friendly people trading with each other.
Lockke
my heart goes to the victim's families..no one deserves this. my god, France isnt a safe place to live in after all these attacks in recent memory. I really condemn this terrorists and hope they all burn in hell.
SenseNotSoCommon
Disgusting, godless behaviour.
PTownsend
I agree with what you said but I'd rather the terrorists and all who support them get the worst possible legal punishments while still here alive on Earth .
Giveme_abreak
HEARTLESS!! COWARD!!
SuperLib
Why?
rainyday
Truly terrible and truly despicable.
I`m so sorry, people of Nice.
dcog9065
The reaction to this will be vicious. Another strike at French cultural life by attacking festivities full of children and families. The terrorist attacks in France seem to be aimed at keeping people too afraid to even venture outside
Mike L
Why?
bass4funk
Why? Because to the radical Jihadists, we are infidels, we are the unbelievers and therefore, we should all die, simple as that.
Outrider
We know the response. Rhetoric, Hollande will look sad and hug some muslims. They will look sad and hug back. No action because that would be "playing into the hands of ISIS." The formula and the loss of life is sickening.
Tony Alderman
Why don't they go and live in a country like Syria? Must be like heaven for them. Scumbags.
MarkG
This archaic barbaric culture has no place in the developed world. They can remain in their own backwards countries opressing themselves. This man is reported to be 31yo with Tunisian connection. Women dressed provocatively is offensive to these Neanderthals. Jews are despised. Christians are murdered by ISIS. Homosexuals are killed ( unless it's young boy toys in Afghanistan). Honor killings. Abuse and oppression of women.......
Radical Islam cannot integrate with the modern world. Why do we even try?
Moderator
Readers, please keep your comments focused on the story.
JeffLee
France is yet again paying a horrific price for its naive and flawed immigration policies.
The country, at least its cities, need to should go on a permanent state of emergency, one resident told Al-Jageera.
Kansaicoon
Dumb terrorist! Its sick that they kill people to spread their hate and twisted ideology.
kwatt
Better not go to any crowd. It may happen there.
SimondB
I'd be keen to learn how to avoid crowds in Tokyo.
MarkG
To stop living life offers the win to radical Islam. continue with your pleasures and support the elimination of radical Islam.
JeffLee
Yes, those damn atheists!
Sorry, it's all about "god." These religious nutters invariably scream "allah akbar" (god is great) while mowing down infidels.
Jimizo
"Disgusting, godless behaviour"
Islamic terrorists don't regard themselves or their behaviour as godless. That's the problem.
Wakarimasen
Not Nice at all. Islamism and the associated suicide attacks or attacks on soft targets is another modern phenomenon that I just don't get.
kibousha
When are you gonna wake up France ? Are you still sleeping from the Nazi invasion ? And, for the rest of Europe, you guys are so cool and so progressive, you let fundamentalism eating you from the inside and you still apologize for them, I don't know what to say but have a nice extinction!
gokai_wo_maneku
Although ISIS has claimed this attack, there have been no reports of Muslims actually being involved. I'd wait for the facts.
Jimizo
"When are you gonna wake up France ? Are you still sleeping from the Nazi invasion ? And, for the rest of Europe, you guys are so cool and so progressive, you let fundamentalism eating you from the inside and you still apologize for them, I don't know what to say but have a nice extinction!"
I'm a European and I suppose I'd be called a progressive. My progressive ideas include being dead against barbaric, Bronze Age ideas trying to turn the clock back.
Unfortunately, as you said, some 'progressive' people seem to think the greater threat is calling barbaric ideas intolerant and backward.
lulldapull
All these ISIS, Taleban and Al-Ciada are all Western covert mercenary outfits. These manufactured events are all either blow back or false flags. Evidence is all over the net........
At the end of the day it is the West that created and still supports terror in its desperation and means for geo-political ends
Nothing more here folks........
HonestDictator
I keep saying it, and I'm going to keep saying it as long as these things keep happening. These folks worship death, It is a cult mentality that as long as they keep killing , destroying, and pretty much ***ing up life, they'll somehow end up in a good* afterlife.
And "excessive" progressives, won't get it until they're the ones getting hurt by the extremists. They won't believe it, until it happens to them. And then it's too late.
choiwaruoyaji
Until muslims themselves decide to root out the extremist evil lurking within their mosques and communities, these attacks will just continue.
Muslims have to integrate more into the West or else they should emigrate to Saudi Arabia.
And by integrate I mean actively disassociate themselves from this sharia nonsense, get rid of medieval coverings for women, accept gays, accept people bailing out of their intolerant religion, accept criticism and even humor that pokes fun of islam...etc
All I seem to hear from muslims is, oh, poor us, we are victims of islamophobia, and other such rubbish...
goldorak
Kibousha, there is no easy fix am afraid. Imo the mistakes were made, or at least started, 50-60 years ago when pretty much everyone was welcome to europe to do the dirty jobs euros didnt wan't to do. This mass migration was never digested especially in France where quickly it turned into ghettoisation. What do you want to do now? Sack all muslims? The vast majority of the +6M are french born and educated. Plus you now have 'ethnic french' the dupont, martin, durand etc who convert to radical islam and go to fight in Syria, come back etc. What do we do with them?
I get your point but imo it's simply too late. Not saying nothing can be done but there is no quick fix to eradicate IS related terrorism in europe and especially in france. A man and a truck thats all you need.
Re your comparison with the nazi invasion, non euros often dont know (or forget) that again the enemy was within: there were strong anti semitic feelings in france in the 30s, many ppl hated Leon Blum the then PM who represented socialism (and was a Jew). Those french werent 'asleep' as you and many think, they helped the German invasion, they collaborated, denounced jews etc.
Again, the world is not as simple as the 'us vs them' rhetoric ppl in some countries are trying to sell us. Its more complex than just building a wall or sending 'home' all blokes with a beard.
lulldapull
Terrorism as an instrument of state policy adopted by the West ever since the early 80's to counter geopolitical rivals must be condemned!
The U.S. is the lead sponsor of global terrorism using these muslim proxies.
The evidence is all over the net and printed media.
SenseNotSoCommon
How many muslims have you spoken at length with, or eaten food with?
World's dilemma: Have the courage to make peace, or the cowardice to profit from conflict.
nadaku
Sickening, so many children as well...
Tragically, throughout time some humans have had the capacity and the desire to kill one another. Don't think this will ever change, unfortunately, as greed and hate fuels hate. And its so seemingly simple, a truck....
MsDelicious
87
kurisupisu
Meanwhile countries such as the US, Germany, Sweden etc are letting more and more of them in! Surely, a recipe for disaster.....
EyeOfTheCat
The biggest problem today is called "political correctness", and these are the consequences. This will continue until someone do something more than just talking.
dagon
JeffLee kudos. I wish a politician would come out and say with all the power of logic and reason behind him, "Yes, these Bronze age religions are the problem.'
Yoshitsune
Horrific. Over 80 fatalities now reported. The recent spate of attacks comes at a time when ISIS is on the verge of military defeat in its 'caliphate', with the last strongholds of Mosul and Raqqa looking set to fall in the near future. Unfortunately, the loss of their territory will result in them turning to mounting revenge attacks against the world at large wherever and whenever they can. This is going to continue for some time yet.
@Jefflee
France is yet again paying the price for Bush & Blair's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Iraq - an invasion which France opposed. No Iraq invasion, no ISIS; unintended consequences.
Oh, I think we're awake already. The problem is working out how to deal with this. One common approach - slandering the majority of Muslims because of the behaviour of a tiny minority of their number - is not helping, in fact it makes it worse.
MrBum
EyeOfTheCat
No, these are the consequences of decades of meddling in the Middle East, support of corrupt regimes, and indiscriminate bombing resulting in civilian casualties. Those are the reasons people join ISIS and turn to radical Islam. Or do you believe that nonsense about them hating our freedom?
So if you believe talking does very little to affect anything, why the huge concern over political correctness? It's just talk.
FizzBit
I said it on September 11, 2001, and I'll say it again today. Get out of the region. Cancel all government weapons and business deals, pull out of all embassies, and get out!.
Jimizo
"No, these are the consequences of decades of meddling in the Middle East, support of corrupt regimes, and indiscriminate bombing resulting in civilian casualties. Those are the reasons people join ISIS and turn to radical Islam. Or do you believe that nonsense about them hating our freedom?"
The west has been guilty of atrocious behaviour in this part of the world and should get out and stay out.
Now can you explain why many Islamic societies, some not in the Middle East, are swamps of intolerance against women, apostates, blasphemers, homosexuals and free-thinkers among others?
In my own country, the UK, over half of Muslims polled believe homosexuality should be criminalised. Can that be put down to meddling in the Middle East? Well over half of Egyptians polled think apostates should be executed.
You can't dismiss the influence of savage and uncivilised ideas. The recruiters of these filthy groups know this and they certainly use them.
nath
I fully agree.
Garthgoyle
@Choiwaruoyaji, You couldn't have said it better. If they really want to integrate with sociaty in the 21st century, they really need to get rid of all that crap. Starting by being tolerant to cristicm.
CrazyJoe
Left to their own devices, good people will generally do good things. Bad people will do bad things. But it takes religion for good people to do really bad things.
Jalapeno
I was expecting something to happen on July 4th in the States. Now Bastille Day in France will forever have this dark cloud over its head.
I fear this is only the beginning. A lone wolf is near impossible to stop. Stay away from crowds. Stay away from restaurants. Stay away from big cities in Europe or the U.S.
MrBum
Jimizo,
The meddling resulted in backlash and fundamentalists taking over the religion. Unlike other religions, it hasn't been allowed to evolve with the times. Just look at old pictures of those countries before the meddling occurred.
smithinjapan
MrBum: "No, these are the consequences of decades of meddling in the Middle East, support of corrupt regimes, and indiscriminate bombing resulting in civilian casualties. Those are the reasons people join ISIS and turn to radical Islam. Or do you believe that nonsense about them hating our freedom?"
Well said. Political correctness is saying "firefighter" instead of "fireman". The notion that sticking up for human rights and not succumbing to hatred of others is 'political correctness' is moronic to begin with, never mind the obvious deflection.
Outrider
I agree. The west should get out of the middle east and leave them to it. It wont stop the terrorism carried out by muslims against the rest of the world though. Read the koran and read the hadith, and try to get a straight answer out of any muslim - worldwide islamization is the duty of every muslim, hence the lack of any kind of serious attempt on the part of the worlds two billion muslims to stamp out this carnage. They are participating in this agenda actively or passively.
Thunderbird2
BBC are reporting 84 dead, 18 critically injured. Children among the dead. Shocking... truly shocking.
Wc626
Agree with WilliB. Meanwhile leaders like obama will still call for tolerance. And that there is no radical islam. Its a gun and truck issue.
Outrider
wake up? I doubt it, theyd have to put aside their illusioury "progressive" mindset that makes them feel so good abt themselves, never mind if the cost is peoples lives. more carnage is coming of course, we all know that.
MrBum
WilliB,
First off, no one really says "it is not a jihadist problem, it is truck control and gun control problem" or "islam has nothing to do with it."
But the other things you mentioned IS facing reality. It's important to look at those realities when trying to figure out what to do about the problem we all agree exists. I agree with the other commenters who say we need to get out and stop meddling. Bombing them doesn't seem to work.
It's going to take a long time for the region to sort itself out though. In the meantime, we shouldn't antagonize ALL Muslims when most intelligence agencies say that the number one source of intelligence is other Muslim informants. This tragedy is terrible, but how the hell do you predict and prevent the actions of what seems like a lone madman with a truck.
Yoshitsune
@outrider
The lack of any serious attempt? What alternate reality are you getting this from? The governments of most middle eastern countries are at present actively engaged in military actions against radical groups, and the citizens of those countries are the ones suffering the most casualties at the hands of those groups. And please stop saying there are two billion Muslims in the world, as that is factually incorrect.
@WilliB
It obviously is a jihadist problem. Which politicians or media outlets say otherwise?
Nessie
ISIS trying to prompt a Frexit?
Outrider
Two billion is the number usually quoted when we're being incessantly told, "the overwhelming number of the worlds muslims" are against jihad. I guess when someone says anything contrary to this standard narrative and tries to put responsibility on islam its open season to pare the number down.
kabukideath
Unless worldwide Muslim leaders do something to preserve and protect some legitimate, civil interpretation of their religion, this will continue to foster the belief that Islam is incompatible with modern civilization. And will be the dominant "war" for the next few centuries.
masterblaster
@MrBum
I am having a difficult time understanding your comment. If you look carefully at most of the westerners joining ISIS a majority of them come from middle class or affluent families and really couldn't tell you much about the history of turmoil in the Middle East and really can only repeat propaganda that help persuade them in the first place to join.
More importantly, there is a certain mentality that pervaudes most Middle East countries: a mentality that is mysognistic, brutal an unforgiving to nonmuslims. This menatlity and indoctrination taking place in the Middle East is the cause of this terrorism. Not individuals fighting against it and trying to stop it and trying to bring the Middle East into Modern society.
u_s__reamer
"Two wrongs don't make a right" was a part of my moral instruction as a child and I have seen no reason to doubt the wisdom of this teaching. What has been going on in the Middle East among Arabs, Jews, Iranians, Kurds and other ethnic groups and the pot-stirring by the so-called "international community" (the usual suspects) since 1945 cannot be called "right" by any stretch of the imagination. The air is now thick with chickens coming home to roost all over our world shrunken to a veritable "village" by modern communications and social media, and unless the political will is found to solve the myriad problems that have flown from the Pandora's Box of the ME and now threatening the peace and security of ALL of us with ties to the region, the rest of this tragic 21st century promises to be very bleak indeed. There is wisdom in another saying that has been ignored by too many people in positions of power for too long: NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! It's time for some serious rethinking concerning the socio-economic systems we have unthinkingly allowed to fester to the detriment of the welfare of the majority.
FizzBit
The videos coming out look horrible. I'd rather our anger turn towards our own government heads, for they have been the ones holding the matches going back to WW I and before.
Yoshitsune
There are one and a half billion Muslims on Earth. You can easily check this figure - the only place I've ever heard 2 billion is in your posts. And regardless of whether there are one and a half or two billion Muslims, to blame all of them for the actions of a tiny fraction of them is to contribute to the problem rather than be part of the solution.
MrBum
masterblaster,
Well then let me clear it up for you. Westerners joining ISIS make up such a small percentage of their ranks, it's barely worth mentioning. But the ones that do join them are morons. You're right, they don't know squat.
I'll say it again, but our meddling pushed them back to fundamentalism. Take Iran, for example. The US and Britain took out their democratically elected SECULAR leader in the 1950s and installed a brutal dictator. The reason? The secular leader wanted to nationalize Iranian oil to the benefit of Iranians. The Iranians understandably overthrew the brutal dictator, and who filled the vacuum amidst the backlash? Fundamentalists.
I agree that fundamentalism in almost any religion is messed up, but what separates Muslims is that they haven't had lasting peace for more than half a century, mostly due to outside influences. You have to admit that can seriously stunt the growth of any ideology.
Rana Sodhi
Very sad.Worst thing this terror attack shows us that to get a truck and slam into crowd is so easy . Stay safe my friends.
Outrider
yoshitsune, i was wondering when the "tiny fraction" line was going to appear. and then the standard backup comment to the effect that asking the worlds muslims to take some responsibility for their murderous brethren will only contribute to the problem. Its getting a bit tired now, btw.
albaleo
No. But any explanation would also have to account for the attitudes of these kids:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gkxm6bKtsk
JeffLee
@Yoshitsune
Islamists have been blowing up France since the 60s, with great regularity. The PLO, Khaled Kelkal, etc.,a whole host of cafe bombers and civilian killers have been at work long before ISIS or the Iraq war.
France is vulnerable to terror because it has taken in so many Muslim immigrants.Thank god I'm in Japan.
Outrider
jeff, lets not interfere with the selective amneisure of the "progressives". these inconvenient truths could threaten their self - image as "liberals".
MrBum
JeffLee,
You think French colonization of North African countries like Libya might have something to do with past terrorism and their subsequent acceptance of immigrants?
JeffLee
No, it's about Islam. Franco-Vietnamese, whose long colonized homeland was the staging ground for one of the worst conflicts, are not bombing festivals or shooting up rock concerts.
Rather, they are busy working as lawyers, teachers and engineers. No time for for devoutly following a bronze-age ideology of sheer intolerance.
MrBum
Personally, I think it's both. But you're right, Islam is more violent at it's core than Buddhism. Living in a desert as opposed to lush jungles also has an effect on dissatisfaction levels.
1glenn
" We have the moral high ground! And to prove it, we're going to kill a bunch of civilians! That'll show ya!"
Jimizo
"Now can you explain why many Islamic societies, some not in the Middle East, are swamps of intolerance against women, apostates, blasphemers, homosexuals and free-thinkers among others?"
"No. But any explanation would also have to account for the attitudes of these kids:"
I'd like to see the following questions posed:
Would you inform the police if you knew someone involved in a terrorist plot?
Do you believe in freedom of the press, including the right to criticise or satirise all opinions including religious opinions?
Do you accept the idea of homosexuals not being thrown in the nick?
Do you think that teaching demonstrably false ideas about science including the origin of life to children is acceptable?
I'll accept that there are non-Muslims who would give outrageous answers to these questions but a look at opinion polls and some mainstream beliefs tells us that there do seem to be deep problems with the followers of this faith in these areas.
As to why many Muslims don't accept barbaric, undemocratic and bigoted ideas, I can't offer a simple answer. They take the religion less seriously? They are nominal followers? They are simply decent people who choose to ignore or 'interpret' the violent verses of their holy scriptures? I just think the focus should be on those who hold ideas which have no place in a civilised country. People should not apologise for highlighting bigotry and calling it out every time.
SenseNotSoCommon
When is the western world going to take some responsibility for their murderous brethren, with their abhorrent resource wars and their mendacious moral superiority platitudes?
kikai
Hello Everyone. Muslim in Japan here.
The incident in Nice is utterly barbaric, inhuman. That must be said, first and foremost. Since the perpetrator is already dead I pray he gets his just rewards (which to me means 7th hell) in the afterlife - assuming there is an afterlife.
To some of you the above probably isn't enough (because it wasn't broadcast worldwide I guess. Or maybe because I didn't use my real name. Well, whatever.
That said, on to some of the comments. I'm a Muslim, as stated previously. The questions posed by Jimizo above. My replies: yes to informing the police, to the freedom of the press, the right to insult any and all religions, to same sex marriage etc. A lot of proper, practising Muslims would agree with me. If you find that hard to believe, sorry.
As for why few/some/many/most Muslims don't accept barbaric, undemocratic and bigoted ideas (on the last item, unlike many commenters here) - the answer really is quite simple (to my mind). Such Muslims are properly educated. And by educated I don't necessarily mean having, say a PhD in western philosophy. Being properly educated makes them decent people. They know how to interpret the texts. Oh, they don't ignore violent texts. It's just that, when you're actually practising Islam you understand and interpret the texts differently from someone who simply reads the text (and is bigoted to boot) - as is the case for many 'experts' on Islam who have commented here.
I could continue (I have the energy, for now). But before that, what would you like to say to me? I should go back to where I 'came from'? I should stop believing in 'fairy tales'? I should wage war against Daesh? Oh, and the perpetrator is not one of my 'brethren'. Definitely not.
Kabukilover
This is pure evil at work. This atrocity will only create more evil. There is only one beneficiary from this hideous deed. The right wing Front National. They have a cultivated facade but thet are every bit as racist as Trump. Noce work You stupid dead killer. Your dead has nurtured Front National.
M3M3M3
Yes, please. The world would be a better place if you did. If you still need a sense of identity and belonging, you will easily be able to find it in the rich pre-Islamic culture of the middle east (assuming you are middle eastern).
Yoshitsune
@outrider
In that case you ought to be well-prepared with an actual sound factual rebuttal. Do you have one? No, you do not - for the very simple reason that it is in fact a only tiny fraction.
You haven't been asking the world's Muslims to help deal with radical Muslim elements - you've been claiming that the world's Muslims aren't doing anything (despite all evidence to the contrary), and therefore asking the world's non-Muslims (your fellow JT readers) to blame them for it. And that is what I'm saying will contribute to the problem. Again - most of the countries taking military action against ISIS right now are Muslim countries, and they are paying the heaviest price in terms if attacks against their civilians - so how can you insist that Muslims aren't doing anything? They clearly are - Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, and of course Syria - are all Muslim countries, are all fighting ISIS, and are all suffering terrorist attacks. Why do you ignore these 'inconvenient truths'?
My self-image is completely irrelevant, as is your opinion of me. Please deal with the points I've raised, not with what you assume to be the character of the person making them.
@jeff
This is of course true. But it's also true that the rise of ISIS has led to a far, far higher rate of far more severe attacks than has ever previously been the case. The PLO et al are not attacking France any more - the present problem for France is due to the situation in Iraq & Syria, and the existence of ISIS in the middle of that situation is the fault of the US and UK's misadventure in Iraq.
This is true, but immigration is not the cause of the terror; the cause is the rise of ISIS. The history of Islamic immigration to France isn't the cause - rather, it's a weak point that ISIS is exploiting to mount attacks.
Don't let your guard down too completely - remember the Akihabara attack a few years ago which also used a truck, and the sarin gas attack in 95. These things can happen anywhere, and the possibility exists of it happening in Japan again (whether done by jihadis or doomsday cults or otaku misfits). Stay safe everyone.
Also, I recommend this video to all readers - it's secret footage of a French jihadi taken by a journalist pretending to be a new jihadi recruit. It shows what a load of absolute garbage their heads are full of and how pathetic they really are.
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/05/02/journalist-infiltrates-jihadist-cell/
Jimizo
@kikai
I'm glad you answered the way you did to the questions I posed. Unfortunately, the answers which came from the Muslim community in the UK weren't so encouraging, particularly the one about informing the police about a knowledge of terrorism. I truly wish the majority of UK Muslims shared your views.
Your point about intolerance being a sign of ignorance of Islam is problematic. The former leader of the Muslim Council of Britain, hardly noted as an extremist organization, declared death to be too good for Salman Rushdie after his 'blasphemous' novel. This man, Iqbal Sacranie, was later knighted. We are not talking about a knuckle-dragging, semi-literate ignoramus charging around with a Kalashnikov and a black flag here. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a noted theologian and favourite of Al-Jazeera, once commented that Hitler put the Jews "in their place". The butchering theocrat Ayatollah Khomeini was also a theologian. Your reasoning seems to be based on the idea that the only educated interpretation of the scriptures is a peaceful one. Call these men what you want but ignorant of the scriptures is a bit of a stretch.
The key question is one I've never got a clear answer to. On what or whose authority are you claiming your interpretation is the correct one?
choiwaruoyaji
Just a question...
Why don't you say something like... "Parts of the Koran are complete nonsense and should be ignored"...
I know Christians who say that about parts of the bible.
Why not stand up and say it clearly about the koran?
One thing I've noticed about muslims is that they have no capacity to criticize their own religion.
And they absolutely hate it when other people criticize islam.
Some muslims hate criticism of islam so much they try to kill anyone who does so.
Why are muslims so intolerant?
kwatt
This truck attack reminds me of Akihabara massacre in 2008. The man drove truck and intentionally hit the crowd in the street. 7 people died and many are injured.
samwatters
JeffLee kudos. I wish a politician would come out and say with all the power of logic and reason behind him, "Yes, these Bronze age religions are the problem.'
There is; his is name is Trump.
Jimizo
"JeffLee kudos. I wish a politician would come out and say with all the power of logic and reason behind him, "Yes, these Bronze age religions are the problem."
"There is; his is name is Trump."
Christianity is a Bronze Age religion. I don't remember him calling that out as a problem. I wish he would.
samwatters
@Jimzo. I am an atheist so no religion impresses me but I haven't seen a whole lot of bombing, murders or beheadings in the name Christ lately.
kikai
I can't tell if you're actually out to whack me or if you really see things differently from most of the other commentators here. So I'll address this first. I suspect you'll decide whether I'm a 'real' Muslim worth supporting (or hammering down) or a half baked, pick-and-choose cake whose opinions are worthless after I answer.
I don't know what you mean by 'what authority' so I cannot answer that one. As for 'whose authority' - no one in particular. I went through what is considered the standard religious education in my part of the world, learnt the 'standard' practices and philosophies (there wasn't much worth learning, and a lot that should not have been taught - good for nothing narrow minded teachers!) and from there it was all my own. As is the case for a lot of Muslims I know. And I should add - I don't know if my interpretation is the correct one, and I make no such claim (if it sounded like I did earlier - my mistake, poor command of the english language I have). But, like many decent Muslims, I believe I know what an incorrect interpretation looks like.
In case you're still reading... Regarding Iqbal Sacranie and Yusuf al-Qaradawi and all these fellas. Oh, I have no doubt they know the scriptures as well as any and better than most. It could be that they had no choice but to pander to their support base. Or maybe they're simply twats. I wouldn't say the things they said even if I actually believed it, though, unless I had to maintain a support base (for the long term good etc.).
NG12345
This is HORRIBLE! France need to double their guards! Double their border's walls. Double their CCTVs. Double everything!
Madverts
Francois "ten grand a month hairdo" Hollande needs to resign. Immediately.
This is the third gargantuan terrorist atrocity on his watch.
They record all of our phone calls. And text messages. And email. And yet they still cannot stop these kind of lone-loser cowardly attacks.
Government spending on snooping on the average citizen needs to be halted immediately. This is the future of Islamic terrorism, the funds need to be allocated to protecting the public when they gather freely to celebrate life, as opposed to the insane splinter faction of Islam that celebrate death.
I am saddened that music festivals in Nice have been cancelled on the back of this. The Parisiens showed the day after the Bataclan massacre that the only way to say bollocks to the terrorists that would have us live in fear is to carry on regardless.
Wc626
Heh. They too need to exit the EU. Take their country back. You'd think last November was the last attck on France. That the terrorists might strike elsewhere.
See. It'd be better if the intelligence community could racially profile certain people more openly. I don't know cause I never visited France. . . but this would be good in the US, where they're strung-out on being so pc. Preaching tolerance n' such.
RealCDN
Well. Some interesting posts. Has there been a clear/solid link to 'radical Islam' or anything else? The actual information that has been published thus far indicates a loner with domestic issues - let's say a social outcast. Let us see what further information - factual information - is revealed in the coming days before anyone starts jumping to conclusions.
Madverts
It looks like another loser hitching his suicidal wagon to the cause to make his worthless death a worldwide event. Oussama bin Laden's "the Base" exactly how he intended it.
roosterman77
Again, the deliberate slaughter of innocent people... and for what? What should we do to stop this insanity? Is it even up to us?
Outrider
Wc626, exactly.
Wc626
For starters, Americans, all Americans, can start supporting Trump. People are opening their eyes and giving a hard look ar Europe and saying, "Do we want to be like them?"
Trump won't let in the refugees and will block/ restrict travel from shady islamic countries. He'll allow the DHS, FBI to profile and conduct surveillance on lone wolf radical converts. He'll bring back the waterboarding, perhaps more. for captured ISIS combatants/ leadership.
roosterman77
@Wc626. Unfortunately I'm not an American. I was implying that it is up to Muslims to do something. I'm not sure if the truck driver was a refugee. He was Tunisian, wasn't he? He would have been an immigrant from the former French colony. As for Trump... you can have him. Whatever the solution, I just hope America stays out of it because we've seen what their policies on Iraq during the Bush Jr years caused.
Yoshitsune
@wc626
How would leaving the EU prevent attacks in France by French citizens of Tunisian / Algerian origins? Can you logically explain your point, beyond a meaningless Trump soundbite about 'taking the country back'? See, immigration to France from its former colonies in Africa has zero connection to France's EU membership; so leaving the EU would make no difference at all the to the problem of attacks by radical French Muslims
misunderstood
@WC626 why blame Obama the terrorist act was committed in France had it happened in the US I could see your point! Terrorism is also racism mind you!
samwatters
"How would leaving the EU prevent attacks in France by French citizens of Tunisian / Algerian origins? Can you logically explain your point, beyond a meaningless Trump soundbite about 'taking the country back'? See, immigration to France from its former colonies in Africa has zero connection to France's EU membership; so leaving the EU would make no difference at all the to the problem of attacks by radical French Muslims"
Nonsense. Leaving the EU would allow France to control its borders (EU demands open borders) and control its legal system to deport the riffraff they don't want or need (EU courts in Brussels currently override every other court in the EU).
cleo
The EU open borders are within the EU. France's former colonies are not members of the EU, and so leaving the EU would have no effect at all on its relations/visa arrangements wth those countries. It's like saying Brexit will stop Brits of Indian/Pakistani descent entering the UK. Lots of Brexit voters fell for that one.
Yoshitsune asked about French citizens. You can't deport your own citizens, even if they are 'riffraff'. If you could I'm sure the UK would have long ago rid itself of its reputation-killing footie yobbos.
nath
Yet, you didn't answer the question:
samwatters
@Cleo abd Strangerland. Bouhlel is/was a 31-year-old Nice resident born in Tunisia. He does/did NOT have French citizenship. Authorities in Nice wanted to deport him for a number of various other violent crimes but could not citing....wait for it.....EU regulations.
cleo
So how would France closing its borders to EU citizens have affected him? Citizens of Tunisia have had immigration preferences into France for decades, nothing to do with the EU. (The Washington Times is saying he had dual citizenship, other reports say he was of Tunisian nationality wth resident status in France.)
Five offences, none of which was apparently serious enough to get him jail time. Both the French and Tunisian intelligence services say he was not on their radar. I cannot find any mention of authorities in Nice or anywhere else wanting to deport him. Do you have any links?
samwatters
@Cleo. I'm sorry, I cannot find the links. When I do will send them.
Yoshitsune
@samwatters
Nonsense yourself. Your post indicates that you do not entirely understand the border arrangements that exist in the EU. France already controls its borders. The EU open borders only apply between members of the Schengen agreement. Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, etc etc, are not members of the Schengen agreement; leaving the EU would therefore do absolutely nothing with regards immigration to France from North Africa.
Where are you getting this from? All sources I see say no attempt was ever made to deport the individual who did this, as his previous offences were all for petty crimes.
Yoshitsune
@Samwatters,
Looking forward to these links, but I'll not be holding my breath as the scenario you've described is false.
SenseNotSoCommon
What's the source for this factoid: Boris Johnson?
Yoshitsune
Complete absence of links or response... quelle surprise
Moderator
No more bickering please.
samwatters
@Cleo and others. Here is the link.
heavy.com/news/2016/07/mohamed-bouhlel-mohammed...
The photograph at the top shows that Bouhiel was not a citizen but a resident. A French Minister was quoted as saying that Bouhiel was radicalized quickly. He was heard by a number of witnesses yelling "Allahu Akbar" before he was shot by the police.
My claims that authorities wanted to deport him but couldn't came from people in the comment section who claimed to be French and lived in Nice.
Yoshitsune
@sam,
Thanks for coming back with a link. However:
Is proof of nothing. It does not seem to be the case that any attempts were ever made to deport this individual.
As for the question of his citizenship / residency; of what relevance is that to the suggestion by Wc626 that leaving the EU would help prevent attacks? How would leaving the EU help in any way to prevent attacks by either French citizens of North African roots or North African residents of France? Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, etc, are not in the EU and never will be, and France's immigration policies for those countries having nothing to do with the EU.
cleo
I can't see any such comments?
coskuri
Was at some point. That's a copy of his gaijin card (carte de séjour) in 2009. They also published the one before that shows he was then (in 2008) on a spouse visa. He may have changed of status and acquired French nationality during the last 7 yrs. I have not the information and I don't see what that changes.
Mr Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of Interior, the national chief of cops. He said that as an answer to Daech's communication saying "This guy is one of our soldiers" and he precised that at this day (that was yesterday but he repeated today), the inestigators had not the least proof that this guy had ever had any contact with any group of jihadis. For what they know, he was a medically certified nutcase, he used his money to rent the truck and bought the a gun from local street gangster. They only have neighbours saying "He didn't do the Ramadan, never been seen at the prayer, he eats pork but, but, but in the last 2 weeks, he has let his beard grow and he has stopped being seen drinking wine at any time of the day..." and I'm sure some your neighbours would say the same about you. The police and secret services are still investigating. Call them if you know more.
That was heard by Fox News.
There are surely people that spend their life writing on internet : "let's deport them all, the ... Why do we havel those petty laws that prevent us from doing it today....". They are not authorities in anything. They are people like you.
samwatters
@Cleo and others. I can't find the quotes either. They appear to have been erased. And please before you accuse me of making them up, you should know from experience of this site that moderators have a lot of influence on what is seen and for how long.
@Coskuri. Lead story this morning (and now in the archives) for Japan Times was an article stating that Bouhiel may have been radicalised quickly and that he resided in an area with mosques known for radical preaching. Wanna bet as more information comes to the surface that more of what I wrote in earlier comments turns out to be true, even if it comes from a 10th rate website, hey Wipeout? Even heard that his wife is now in custody along with a few other acquaintances.
You accuse me of citing FOX news---which you immediately dismiss therefore showing your own bias. Unfortunately I did NOT get that news from FOX but several other sites. The mainstream media is doing all they can to whitewash this in the name of politically correctness. Sometimes 10th rate websites are the only ones telling the truth.
Yoshitsune
Sam,
Your argument is terribly muddled. What you are being challenged on here is your claim that authorities attempted to deport this individual but were blocked by the EU. You are not being challenged on whether he was Muslim or not, or whether he was radicalised or not, and not whether he was a French citizen or not. The facts do appear to be that he was a Tunisian citizen (and not French), a long-term resident of France, and was not a practising Muslim until a sudden and swift radicalisation shortly before he carried out this atrocity. But the argument you made and have been challenged (and failed) to support was that French authorities tried to deport him but couldn't because of EU regulations. There is not a shred of evidence of this, and all reports (including those on the website you provided the link to) are that he was only previously known to police for minor crimes and driving offences - not offences for which a person can be deported. So, once again, you need to either provide evidence of your claim that authorities tried to deport him and were blocked by EU regs, or acknowledge that you were mistaken to make that claim and that in fact France's EU membership did not in any way contribute to this terrorist attack by an African.
Todd Topolski
The question now is how many people must be killed by these terrorist groups before the world wide progressive socialist who run the US, UN, EU and other countries, actually do something about the violent groups as opposed to the current policy of protecting these violent groups and the countries who support them.
nath
What a ridiculous statement. No one in the West is protecting these groups.
More gibberish from the clueless right.
Yoshitsune
The US, UN, and EU are protecting and supporting ISIS? Where on earth are you getting this fantasy nonsense from? That is not the question at all, because you already have the answer - the very reason that ISIS is calling for attacks in France, America etc is because those countries are bombing ISIS and coordinating with Iraqi forces on the ground - with great effect. ISIS just lost Falluja and Ramadi and are cornered in Mosul and Raqqa. As a territorial entity, they are getting their asses kicked. What more do you want the US and Europe to do?