What we know about Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel

CTV News Channel: Details about suspect Freelance journalist Lisa Louis shares background information about the suspect in the deadly attack and what was found inside the truck.

The perpetrator of a truck rampage in Nice, France, that killed more than 80 people and wounded hundreds more, has been identified as Mohamed Lagouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Frenchman who was born in Tunisia.

At least 84 people were killed Thursday night, when a truck slammed into crowds that had gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks in the coastal city. Witnesses described seeing Bouhlel steering the truck to hit men, women and children as they tried to flee.

Bouhlel was killed by gunfire from police who were responding to the deadly rampage. Records show that the truck that rammed through the seaside crowd was rented in the outskirts of the city on July 11, and was overdue on the night of the attack.

French police officials told The Associated Press on Friday that identity papers found near the attacker belonged to a 31-year-old of Tunisian descent. Bouhlel’s father has since said he hasn’t visited Tunisia in four years and has not stayed in contact with his family there.

The Islamic State group claimed Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel as a "soldier" on Saturday, but friends and family said Bouhlel was a troubled, angry man with little interest in Islam.

However, France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, told reporters that Bouhlel was “radicalized very quickly.”

French news reports say Bouhlel was a delivery truck driver and married father of three who lived in Nice. However, there are conflicting reports on his marital status, with some news organizations reporting that Bouhlel was estranged from his wife.

Neighbours at an apartment block in the Quartier des Abattoirs, on the outskirts of Nice, told AP that Bouhlel was prone to drinking and womanizing, and in the process of divorcing his wife. His father claims he was prone to violent outbursts during which "he broke everything he found around him."

"Each time he had a crisis, we took him to the doctor who gave him medication," Mohamed Mondher Lahouaiej Bouhlel told French broadcaster BFM TV.

Petty crime history

French Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas said Friday that Bouhlel had a history of petty crime, including previous misdemeanour convictions.

Bouhlel “was at the centre of several procedures” but was sentenced for only one incident earlier this year, Urvoas said. Officials say he was not on any terrorism watch lists.

Urvoas said Bouhlel received a six-month suspended sentence in March after throwing a wooden object at a motorist during an altercation. He was required to post bail and appear at a Nice police station once a week.

The justice minister said records show Bouhlel respected the obligations rigorously.

Officials have not identified any association between Bouhlel and extremist militant groups.

With files from The Associated Press