After all the talk of World War III and crushing ISIS with nukes and all of that, it turns out that yesterday's attacker in France was just a depressed spouse with violent tendencies and no known ties to terrorist organizations.
A terrorist who used a hired lorry to kill at least 84 people in a rampage during Bastille Day celebrations in Nice has been named as a convicted criminal well known to the police for armed attacks.Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel - described as a "weird loner" who "became depressed" when his wife left him - was a French passport holder who lived in the Riviera city and was regularly in trouble with the law.
The 31-year-old delivery driver's wife is this afternoon in police custody as officers question her about his alleged Islamist links. Bouhlel was reportedly not on a terrorist watch list and investigators are seeking to establish his motives - and are also looking for possible accomplices.
It also turns out he didn't crash through the barriers, as had been originally reported, but simply told police he was delivering ice cream.
This isn't stopping the cable news outlets and every right wing Islamophobic organization from spouting off irresponsible claims. From former CIA director Woolsey on MSNBC to Bill O'Reilly to presumptive nominee Donald Trump, they're all sure he must be a terrorist with ties to ISIL. After all, he has one of those "Muslim" names, and came from Tunisia, so surely he's guilty of SOME form of terrorism, right?
I believe we call that scapegoating, and it plays right into the hands of thugs who do want to start a World War.
It's notable that President Obama did not make a statement last night. He, like many of us, were looking for some facts before we started being irresponsible. Perhaps media should try that.
