That was a week ago. Driving a vehicle of 19 tonnes, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove into the crowd gathered on the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice, for the festivities of July 14. He leaves 84 dead, over 200 injured and thousands of traumatized people. Very quickly, however, the controversy between politicians starts, especially on security conditions on the evening of drama. According to the information obtained by Libération government communication has at least disguise the reality.
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What was the officially planned device?
Immediately after the killing, Christian Estrosi, former mayor of Nice and current head of the regional council, has the liability of the Government: “I would like to understand how the truck was able to return in the pedestrian area?” he asked, making as if he knew the answer. Soon, the question takes a polemical turn. The mayor of Nice and the government is returning the ball on their mutual responsibilities. The first accusing the latter of not having taken the measure of the event by mobilizing a small number of national police. The second accused Estrosi to be fully aware of the device since the council services were closely associated with the various preparatory meetings with the prefecture. In an attempt to end the controversy, it explains in a press release of July 16, the device specially designed for this July 14th: “The perimeter mission was entrusted to the most sensitive points of police crews national reinforced crew of the municipal police. This was particularly true of truck entry point with an access ban materialized by the positioning of vehicles blocking access to the road. The truck forced their way uphill on the sidewalk. “ And to clarify that this device has been set up for the first time.
To believe the statement, the beginning of the area pedestrian promenade des Anglais, which began on the corner of boulevard Gambetta, had to be crossed by cars of the national police to prevent a possible forced passage. This same scenario details, Saturday, July 16, Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of the Interior, on the steps of the Elysee, at the exit of a small council of defense. “The national police were present and very active on the Promenade des Anglais”, he says, adding that “ police vehicles made it impossible to cross the Promenade des Anglais “. And ensure that it is “by sidewalks and very violently” that the truck was able to embark on the pedestrian way.
Four days later, on Tuesday night in the national Assembly, during the debate on the restoration of the state of emergency, Manuel Valls flatly refused any failure of state services: “I will leave never say that there are faults where there are none! I will never accept the shameful about who insinuate that all this could have been avoided, as saying this is discrediting our security forces who are fighting every day and get results. “ Until Wednesday July 20, therefore, for the government, the safety device of July 14, implemented in partnership with the municipality of Nice, was subject neither to debate or questions. During the session of the current issues on Wednesday, Prime Minister dodged the question of Rudy Salles, deputy UDI Alpes-Maritimes, and Deputy Mayor of Nice, Philippe Pradal, who questioned the lack of police officers “heavily armed” at the entrance to the pedestrian area. Valls merely responding to criticism from Christian Estrosi on a low presence of national police officers: “We want the summary of attendance of national police on the ground at the disposal of justice” (1). And declare solemnly: “The country needs truth, to know everything.”
What police protection actually
Unlike the version? advanced to the highest peak of the state, the police presence on the promenade des Anglais July 14 evening was actually much lighter. Many testimonies gathered by Libération attest, as well as photographs, we could see, taken a few minutes before entering the truck driven by Mohamed Lahouiaej Bouhlel on the pedestrian part of the Promenade. It starts at the corner of Boulevard Gambetta, about ten meters from the High Club, a club that will be converted into a makeshift hospital in the night. On the picture we publish one, only two municipal police officers are then placed in the middle of the roadway. Dressed in yellow jumpers, they operate in a still dense traffic and ensure that no vehicle enters the pedestrian area. The six-lane assigned to traffic are cut by metal barriers and red and white rectangular pads. This is also the version of a witness present at the scene the night of the tragedy, which confirms seeing only agents of the city.
No trace in this very specific scope, with strength of the national police. And because they have been identified around 20: 30 by their municipal colleagues. There’s no car National Police may cross the roadway, as assured the prefecture. But a police source who was able to view images of video surveillance ensures Libération one police vehicle, the municipal officials, was in the middle of the floor, sea side. Without be able to block the passage. When Lahouaiej Bouhlel bypasses the dam Gambetta riding on the sidewalk, continuing its carnage, the first men of the national police are placed in the heart of the pedestrian area, 370 meters to the east, near the hotel Westminster. Two cars parked in the direction of traffic on the side.
How to explain the absence of the national police?
The safety device for the festivities of July 14 was prepared at three meetings, on June 28, July 7 and 8. Chaired by the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture, the first considering the enhanced measures. “was requested in Nice the city to secure the event by a barrièrage with public filtration (touching, bags openings)” , it said in the minutes of the next meeting, written by the prefecture. But this July 7, the trail of a public search (almost 30 000 people are expected) is abandoned due to security forces manning “forced”. The meeting then sets roles. The National Police must concentrate in the heart of the pedestrian area, there or there are concerts. This is indicated in the minutes of the Prefecture of 7 July.
The next day, the final details are fixed. He asked the city police to provide 42 field workers, 16 more than in 2015. The latter, under the authority of the prefect, must position from 20: 30 on twenty points access, particularly at the entrance to the pedestrian area. At the Boulevard Gambetta, their missions are to ensure the “deviation motorists and traffic fluidity,” by memo of the town of Nice. Clearly, the found device is exactly that which was expected. But not described retrospectively by the Place Beauvau and the prefecture. Since they ensured that there was a presence of the National Police at the entrance to the pedestrian area.
Is a reinforced safety device would have changed things?
Unable to respond. According to our information, warning about the presence of a mad truck on the Promenade des Anglais is given by a city police crew around 22 h 33. These officers, who were not assigned to specific security device to July 14, are in full working near the Mediterranean university Centre when they see a truck traveling at high speed on the pavement of the promenade des Anglais. Lahouaiej Bouhlel has already started his carnage a few hundred meters further west, near the Lenval Street. Running at nearly 90 km / h, he left behind many victims.
The alert was given on the radio, but when municipal police officers positioned at the Gambetta barrier receive it, the drunk driver is almost on them. They do not have time to make use of their 38 special type of revolver, a six shots caliber 7.65 mm, in any way against an ineffective 19 tons at full speed. “To curb the course of such a vehicle, colleagues have just been trying to shoot through a side window. But it must be fast and accurate. Our weapons do not allow to cross the windscreen or puncture the tires “ says Yves Bergerat, municipal police in Nice. It will take about ten seconds later the first shots in the Sig-Sauer 9mm national policemen then posted outside the hotel Westminster and running towards the Negresco hotel, for the race to the truck starts to be hindered . She finished a few meters away in front of the palace of the Mediterranean.
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(1) 85 national police officers to 19 hours 89-20 hours 92-21 hours and 64 between 22 hours and 23 hours.
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