The recent attack on the Notre-Dame de Nice basilica that left three people dead came two weeks after another high-profile murder in france in which an 18-year-old Muslim killed a middle school teacher purportedly over him showing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad to pupils. President Macron called the tragic event an “attack” on france.
French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has alleged in an interview with Voix du Nord newspaper that the attacker on Notre-Dame de Nice, a 21-year-old man of Tunisian origin, arrived in the country already bearing plans to murder its citizens in his head. Darmanin admitted that the counterterrorism prosecutor is yet to determine when exactly the perpetrator, Brahim Aouissaoui, procured the plan of attack, but, at the same time, the minister noted that his actions suggest he planned the assault from the start.
The minister went on to notice that the profile of terrorists operating in France has changed in recent years. He noted that apart from some exceptions, they are no longer prisoners radicalised during their incarceration or fighters sent from abroad. He noted that it forces Paris to adapt and look not only at radicalised persons, which is why the government is planning to adopt a new law in December.
Darmanin also added that France is planning on strengthening its border controls, but noted that it is not going to treat every foreigner as a potential terrorist.
