Nice attack trial: ex-president François Hollande at the helm
Judicial sketch made on October 10, 2022, showing former French President François Hollande before the Paris Assize Court during the trial of the July 2016 attack in Nice.
AFP - BENOIT PEYRUCQ
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
At the trial of the attack of July 14, 2016 in Nice, the court heard Monday, October 10 the former president François Hollande and his Prime Minister at the time Bernard Cazeneuve.
While many victims denounced at the bar the weak presence of the police that evening, both were mainly questioned about securing the Promenade des Anglais.
The question is the subject of a judicial investigation still in progress, but the court wanted the two former leaders to answer the questions, "
legitimate
" according to it, of the victims and their relatives.
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With our special correspondent,
Laura Martel
Both recognize it from the outset, when there is an attack, "
it's a failure
".
However, should the July 14 celebrations have been canceled in the face of a still high terrorist threat?
"
We had to show that we wanted to live while taking protective measures
", maintains François Hollande, who assures: "
There was no relaxation
" before the attack.
"
On July 11, I told all the prefects: the Euro is over, but the terrorist threat continues to exist
," adds Bernard Cazeneuve.
To the lawyers who relayed the criticisms of the civil parties on the lack of law enforcement that evening, the minister countered that 64 national police officers were then deployed on the Promenade, 107 in Nice, i.e. 20% more staff than the previous year.
“
Did we have the means to ensure security?
The answer of the prefect and the mayor of Nice was "yes"
, underlines for his part François Hollande, who recalls that the terrorist had not been the subject of any report.
As for the absence of concrete studs to block access to the Promenade, Bernard Cazeneuve points out that the device chosen was rather intended to promote access for emergency services and prevent a trap effect in the event of panic.
“
It is this logic which prevailed and which did not work
”, notes the minister, who insists that “
100% precaution does not lead to zero risk
”.
Even if the two men underlined that they had come to respond to the "
legitimate need for truth
" of the civil parties, these hearings did not in the end bring any new element or, in any case, any element relating to the defendants and to what they were told. charge in this trial.
Civil party hearings resume on Tuesday, October 11.
►Read again: The heartbreaking message from a mother to her daughter broke during the Nice attack
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Nice attack