Nice attack: Prosecutor says suspect had accomplices

Four men and a woman are believed to have been involved in preparing the attack

Nice truck attacker Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel received logistical support for his Bastille Day attack from five suspects who are now in custody, French prosecutor Francois Molins has said.

Mr Molins told a news conference the crime had been planned for months. He said one of the suspects had filmed the scene of the attack the day after. All five are facing preliminary terrorism charges for their alleged roles in helping Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian living in Nice.

Suspects in court

The four men and one woman aged between 22 and 40 are due to appear in court shortly. They include an Albanian couple suspected of providing Lahouaiej-Bouhlel with a pistol.

Another of the suspects is a 22-year-old man believed to have received text messages from Lahouaiej-Bouhlel on the night of the attack, discussing the supply of weapons. Police found a Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition at the man's home, AFP news agency reports.

Like Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, none of those detained were known to French intelligence prior to the attack.
Mr Molins said information from Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's phone showed searches and photos that indicated he had been studying an attack since 2015.

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The so-called Islamic State group said Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was one of its "soldiers" - but the lorry driver had not been on any French police watch list.

As the Bastille Day crowd enjoyed festivities on Nice's Promenade des Anglais, Lahouaiej-Bouhlel careered his large white lorry towards them.