Christian Estrosi and Anthony Borré (right) just after the attack, October 29 -

City of Nice

  • On October 29, a 21-year-old Tunisian killed three people in a basilica in Nice.

  • This is the third terrorist attack perpetrated in Nice in five years.

  • According to the first deputy mayor of Nice who calls for "more powers for the municipal police", "there are no other possibilities than to go towards a vigilance society".

On October 29, a 21-year-old Tunisian, who arrived in Nice two days earlier, burst into the Notre-Dame basilica.

Killing three people.

After this third terrorist attack in the space of five years in the French Riviera capital, Anthony Borré, the first deputy mayor Christian Estrosi, in charge of security, is asking for more powers to face the threat.

After the attack on soldiers in 2015, and the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in 2016, Nice was once again targeted.

Why you think ?

There is a national and international context.

The feast of July 14, a basilica… These are the symbols that are targeted, our model of civilization.

I don't think it's the city.

But in any case, things have changed.

In 2015-2016, there was careful preparation for this kind of attack.

Today, terrorism is more artisanal.

And it can unfortunately be everywhere.

He's undercover.

There are no other possibilities than to move towards a society of vigilance.

Than to point out all the phenomena of radicalization.

You ask again for the possibility of using facial recognition, but in this case the alleged attacker was not listed S ...

Easy recognition has multiple uses.

Its interest can also be confirmed a posteriori.

To speed up investigations.

Is it normal to see investigators mobilized in our Urban Supervision Center [where the city's cameras are connected] to watch thousands of hours of footage in search of the terrorist when these operations would take much less time if we could integrate his photos into software?

For the attack of July 14, the terrorist was not listed for radicalization either.

However, he had already been arrested by the municipal police and convicted of violence in particular.

We should also be able to use recognition so that this kind of profiles cannot access festive spaces, which concentrate the world, such as Carnival for example.

For the moment, the CNIL does not allow you to go further.

Do you think things are moving in your direction?

At least I have the impression that the public debate is progressing.

It is up to us to continue to remind people of the usefulness of the system, again and again.

The mayor once again seized the Prime Minister on this matter.

Ten years ago, some mocked the policy of Christian Estrosi in terms of video surveillance cameras.

Today, who could question them?

I am convinced that we will eventually prove ourselves right on facial recognition.

What decisions were made after this new attack?

The sixteen call points, installed last year in public spaces and connected to the municipal police, will multiply.

They have shown their interest with already 400 triggers and arrests.

That of Jean-Médecin was activated during the attack on the basilica and allowed the municipal police to intervene quickly.

We will therefore install 170 more, especially in front of schools, colleges and high schools.

There will be 40 more starting this month and another 40 in December.

Are you also going to strengthen your municipal police?

Yes, Christian Estrosi wants the city to recruit 80 more agents [there are 550 currently].

Our agents have shown that they do amazing things every day.

They were the first to intervene in the attack and they too were the ones who neutralized the terrorist.

Half a year ago, we got them to carry semi-automatic pistols, like the national police.

If that hadn't been the case, what would happen to the attacker?

Experience shows us that we must give more powers to the municipal police.

It would be necessary to have access to the files, to be able to carry out identity checks, to search safes.

And also allow the director of the municipal police to conduct a number of investigations.

It would make everyone's job easier.

In a report which has just been published, the Court of Auditors cites our police as an example.

And, generally, the municipal police are recognized as the third security force of our Nation.

The court evokes the “substitution effect” assumed by the municipal police, especially in the largest cities, in the face of the withdrawal of the State both in terms of staff and scope of intervention.

The rest must follow.

What is the mechanism around the schools?

I asked that their surveillance be the number 1 mission of the municipal police.

We show a very strong and regular presence near almost all school groups.

I remind you that alert buttons are installed inside each school.

Society

Jean Castex will chair a national tribute to the three victims of the Nice attack on Saturday

Society

Gérald Darmanin on tour in the Maghreb to talk about radicalization

  • Society

  • Attack

  • security

  • Terrorism

  • Nice

  • Local police

  • Interview