Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Isis told supporters to run French over with cars before Nice truck attack

Isis spokesperson Abu Muhammad al Adnani recommended the tactic if supporters couldn’t ‘find an IED or a bullet’

Andrew Griffin
Friday 15 July 2016 11:02 BST
Comments
What happened in Nice: 84 killed as lorry drives through crowd

Isis encouraged its supporters to attack French people with cars ahead of the Nice attack.

A man drove a truck through a crowd in Nice, killing at least 84 people and injuring many more.

Isis has not claimed responsibility for the attack, though it has been celebrated by its supporters. But the manner that it was conducted seems to be in keeping with calls from Isis spokesperson Abu Mohammed al-Adnani.

Nice attack: Lorry examined

He called on Isis supporters to use vehicles to commit terror attacks, if they didn’t have access to more traditional weapons. The call came soon after Adnani was appointed as spokesperson, in late 2014.

“If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman or any of their allies,” he said in one of his first speeches, according to a translation from the SITE Intelligence Group.

“Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car.”

Soon after that warning was first given, a man who claimed to be acting in support of Isis used a car to ram into security officials in Canada.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in