--- description: Nice was the third major attack in France in 18 months title: Nice Attack: Attack Might Have Been Avoided image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt326bc424f0890cee/69889c0a5f570f8df4b21b65/nice-france-attack-truck-bullet-holes.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # French Politicians Say Nice Attack Might Have Been Avoided  by [Dan Stewart](/author/dan-stewart/)  ## Dan Stewart Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 15, 2016 10:21 AM CUT  Forensic police investigate the truck at the scene of the terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, on July 15, 2016\. Authorities said a French-Tunisian attacker killed 84 people as he drove a truck through crowds, gathered to watch a firework display during Bastille Day celebrations. The attacker then opened fire on people in the crowd before being shot dead by police. Patrick Aventurier—Getty Images Forensic police investigate the truck at the scene of the terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, on July 15, 2016\. Authorities said a French-Tunisian attacker killed 84 people as he drove a truck through crowds, gathered to watch a firework display during Bastille Day celebrations. The attacker then opened fire on people in the crowd before being shot dead by police. Patrick Aventurier—Getty ImagesPatrick Aventurier—Getty Images  by [Dan Stewart](/author/dan-stewart/)  ## Dan Stewart Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 15, 2016 10:21 AM CUT Senior politicians in France have begun questioning the country’s anti terror strategy, hours after a man driving a truck killed 84 people in France’s third major terrorist attack in 18 months. Alain Juppé, a former Prime Minister who is now mayor of Bordeaux, was among the first to voice criticism of President François Hollande’s government in the wake of the attack. “If all measures had been taken, the Nice attack would not have taken place,” he said in an [interview with local radio](http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2016/07/15/01016-20160715LIVWWW00050-en-direct-nice-attentat-attaque.php#103935 "undefined"), saying that “flaws and shortcomings” still existed in national security strategy. “It is imperative that government intervene in that area to better coordinate our intelligence services.” ### Terrorist Attack in Nice, France  A woman whose shirt is covered in blood is helped after authorities said a truck slammed into a crowd in Nice, France, on July 14, 2016\. French officials said more than 70 people were killed. Antoine Chauvel  Bodies lie in the streets of Nice, France, after a terrorist attack that left at least 77 dead and dozens injured on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  Wounded and dead bodies lie on the ground in Nice, France, July 14, after a truck crashed into a crowd on the Promenade des Anglais. Antoine Chauvel  Covered bodies lie on the street after a truck crashed into a crowd along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, during celebrations of Bastille Day on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  At the site of the terrorist attack, people react along the Promenade des Anglais after a truck crashed into a crowd during celebrations of Bastille Day in Nice, France, July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  First responders tend to victims of a terrorist attack in Nice, France, that left at least 77 dead and dozens injured on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  First responders in Nice, France, after authorities said at least 77 people were killed and many more injured after a truck slammed into a crowd on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  Bystanders tend to victims after a terrorist attack in Nice, France, that left 77 dead and many more injured, July 14, 2016 Antoine Chauvel  Bodies lie in the streets of Nice, France, after a terrorist attack that left at least 77 dead and dozens injured on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  Bodies lie in the streets of Nice, France, after a terrorist attack left at least 77 dead and dozens injured on July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel  French police after an attack that killed 77 and wounded many more along the Promenade des Anglais, Nice France, July 14, 2016. Antoine Chauvel Juppé, an unpopular figure during his time in office, has seen a popular resurgence in recent months and is the center-right’s [leading candidate for next year’s presidential elections](//www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/04/alain-juppe-french-presidential-uk-leave-eu "undefined"). He is considered the favorite to unseat Hollande. Former Nice mayor Christian Estrosi, who hails from the same Les Republicains party as Juppé, also raised the question of whether more could have been done. “How is it possible in our country that, after everyone said there was a state of emergency, a state of war, we forgot it after Charlie Hebdo, and then there was the Bataclan,” he said on local radio, [the New York _Times_ reports](http://www.nytimes.com/live/truck-plows-into-crowd-in-nice-france/nice-estrosi-questions "undefined"). “After the Bataclan, we forgot, and then there was Brussels. After Brussels, we forgot and there was Nice … there are questions that need to be answered.” France has been under a state of emergency ever since November’s attacks in Paris, and Hollande’s government has deployed thousands of soldiers to protect sensitive sites across the country. On Thursday, Hollande suggested the state of emergency might be lifted after July 26\. Today, he said it would be extended for another three months. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4407683/nice-attack-france-alain-juppe-hollande/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4407683/nice-attack-france-alain-juppe-hollande/"},"headline":"French Politicians Say Nice Attack Might Have Been Avoided","datePublished":"2016-07-15T10:21:54.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:59:46.181Z","description":"Nice was the third major attack in France in 18 months","url":"https://time.com/4407683/nice-attack-france-alain-juppe-hollande/","keywords":["France"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt326bc424f0890cee/69889c0a5f570f8df4b21b65/nice-france-attack-truck-bullet-holes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Dan Stewart","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/dan-stewart/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt326bc424f0890cee/69889c0a5f570f8df4b21b65/nice-france-attack-truck-bullet-holes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Bastille Day Truck Attack Kills 84 In Nice","caption":"Forensic police investigate the truck at the scene of the terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, on July 15, 2016. 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