At the trial of the Nice attack, the testimony of two "heroes"

Europe 1 with AFP 9:28 p.m., September 13, 2022

The special assize court of Paris heard on Tuesday, at the trial of the Nice attack, the testimony of two "heroes" who, with their bare hands as their only weapon, tried to stop the crazy race of the ram truck the evening of July 14, 2016 in Nice, on the Promenade des Anglais.

Franck Terrier and Alexandre N. (his lawyer does not want his client's name to be published, editor's note), recounted with modesty and emotion their attempt to put an end to the murderous journey of Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, killed by the police after mowing down hundreds of people including many children, leaving 86 dead in its wake.

"They shook me up a bit"

"I saw right away that it was a terrorist attack. There was no ambiguity at that level. The driver of the truck was determined to crush as many people as possible", calmly tells the bar Franck Terrier , a 55-year-old Niçois with a salt-and-pepper beard.

With his wife, he had gone out on "the Prom'", on a scooter, this evening of July 14 to go "to eat an ice cream" when suddenly "a truck (the) doubles on the right".

"I immediately wanted to catch up with him," he said in a strained voice.

Franck Terrier drops off his wife and chases the 19-tonne truck on his two-wheeler.

Careful not to roll over the bodies on the road, he reaches the truck in seconds, throws his scooter under the wheels of the truck in the hope of stopping it and hangs on the step on the driver's side .

"I fought with him. There were exchanges of blows. That's all," he said, looking at the court.

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Through the open window of the cabin, the Tunisian threatens him with a handgun.

Bullets - probably fired by police - whizzed around him.

The killer smacks him on the head.

Franck Terrier falls but gets back on the running board.

The shooting intensifies.

He jumps out of the now stationary truck and hides underneath.

In the confusion and fright that followed the immobilization of the vehicle, the police seized Franck Terrier, thinking they were dealing with an accomplice of the killer.

"They shook me up a bit," recalls the Niçois, sketching a smile.

President Laurent Raviot asks if the assailant said anything.

"No, he didn't speak but he was determined. he was determined to hit", replies Franck Terrier.

"He dealt blows, big blows".

"At the risk of my life"

The Niçois, who was decorated with the Legion of Honor in July 2017 for his heroic gesture, has many consequences from this evening of horror which continues to haunt him.

Like many witnesses who had spoken during the trial of the attacks of November 13, he is overwhelmed by the feeling of guilt, the regret of not having succeeded in saving more people.

“I would have liked to intervene more quickly,” he says.

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"I absolutely had to stop this massacre," he insists.

His lawyer asks him: "at the risk of your life?".

“Yes, at the risk of my life,” he replies.

In 2019, he admits having tried to end his life.

He will spend two months in a psychiatric hospital following this desperate gesture.

“I had a twilight syndrome,” he summarizes.

Alexandre N., 38, hesitated a lot before testifying.

His voice trembles.

Before the intervention of Franck Terrier, it was on foot, running on the road, that he pursued the truck.

Arrived at his height, he seizes the handle of the driver's side truck and tries to open the door.

Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel aims at him with a firearm.

"I let go of the handle," he said, almost apologetically.

Very marked by these events, he recounts his marriage which "exploded".

"I have become undrinkable. I can hardly stand anything anymore".

"Clearly for me he was a terrorist, he knew what he was doing, he had an objective. It was premeditated, it was a 100% terrorist act," he said in a choked voice.

Leaving the courtroom, Alexandre N. goes to sit aside.

Only.