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The driver of the truck that ploughed into a crowd at the beachfront southern French town of Nice, leaving at least 84 dead, has been described as being of "Tunisian" background.
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French media have named him as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. Local newspaper Nice-Matin wrote that the 31-year-old, who is the father of a young child, lived in a northern suburb of Nice but was of Tunisian origin.
His apartment was searched by police on Friday morning local time as officers spoke to his relatives. Bouhlel, believed to be a delivery driver, is thought to have hired the truck that was used in the attack in a nearby town one day earlier.
![A police car is parked near the scene of the attack.](/web/20160717104624im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/6/c/m/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gq6gbl.png/1468592093483.jpg)
US officials have also reportedly confirmed the attacker's name.
US sources identify 31yo Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel as the truck driver in the Nice Attack. #NiceAttack
— Jonathan Vigliotti (@JonVigliotti) July 15, 2016
Police had earlier found identity papers, in the cab of the truck, that belonged to a 30 or 31-year-old man with dual French-Tunisian citizenship, according to Reuters. He was born in 1985.
Bouhlel was reportedly known to police for violence and use of weapons, but had not previously been linked with terrorism. He was not on the watch list of French intelligence services.
Early assessment of the attack was that it was carried out by Bouhlel alone, but police are investigating whether he had accomplices.
Some US authorities view the Islamist terror organisation Islamic State as a factor, but the organisation has made no verified claims about the act so far.
The motive of Bouhlel, who was shot dead by police after an exchange of gunfire, is not known.
Supporters of IS reportedly rejoiced on social media at news of the attack.
There are more Tunisians among foreign jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq that any other country, according to some estimates.
The attack comes only eight months after IS attacked a Paris night club, along with restaurants and cafes leaving 130 people dead.