Reservists Called Up In France As Wounded Fight For Life After Bastille Terror Attack


Reservists in France have been called up after the Bastille Attack in Nice. The 12,000 police reservists will help to boost the security presence after more than 80 people were killed after the attack.

The BBC reported that Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve made an appeal for all those who were willing to sign up as police reservists. The additional reservists would be used to help secure France’s borders. The appeal came after Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who was driving a lorry, drove the vehicle along the seaside road in the town of Nice and killed 80 people. He was later shot dead by police. The Islamic State has claimed credit for the attack, and five people linked to the driver, including his wife, are in police custody.

NBC News reported that the reservists called up was in response to boost security measures after the attack. In addition to those who were killed, an additional 200 people were wounded in the attack when the driver of the lorry sped through Nice’s crowded promenade during the Bastille Day celebration. The holiday commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution on July 14, 1789, when the Bastille prison in Paris was stormed by Frenchmen. The celebration includes fireworks, military parades, concerts, and balls.

In the wake of previous terrorist attacks in France that included the attacks in Paris, as well as the Charlie Hebdo bloodbath, the French government has drawn criticism for failing to respond promptly. French President Francois Hollande implemented a state of emergency in France in November that he extended after the latest attack.

In a letter written by Regional council president Christian Estrosi and published in the Nice Matin newspaper, he criticized the current French leadership for failing to properly respond to the terror attacks. Cazeneuve called a news conference where he said that reservists would be called up to help address the threat of terror.

SWI reported that the wounded were fighting for life as the killer’s brother told of the pre-attack call. Jabeur, brother of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, speaking from his home in Tunisia, said that his brother phoned home just hours before the attack and sent a happy picture from Nice.

“That last day he said he was in Nice with his European friends to celebrate the national holiday. He seemed very happy and pleased, he was laughing a lot.”

In the interview handled by Reuters, they were unable to verify the existence of the photograph Bouhlel sent to his family. French Health Minister Marisol Touraine said that there were still 18 people in critical condition from the attack, including a child.

Euronews reported that France called up 12,000 reservists as security questions in France continued to mount. Although called to step down, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve appealed for Frenchmen to volunteer to help secure the country.

“Their role (reservists) will be focused on two fundamental missions: first, to check people at the borders, toll roads, and control the flow of people. Let me remind you that since the return of border controls decided on the night of November 13, 48 million people have been checked across all of our land, air and maritime borders.”

The appeal came in addition to the 12,000 reservists called up after the third major terrorist attack occurred on French soil. France’s National Front leader Marine Le Pen called for Minister Cazeneuve to step down as Cazeneuve defended security efforts.

[Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images]

Share this article: Reservists Called Up In France As Wounded Fight For Life After Bastille Terror Attack
More from Inquisitr