[3] Both French President Emmanuel Macron and the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, said it was a terrorist attack attributed to Islamic extremism.

Four weeks prior to this attack, French President Emmanuel Macron described Islam as a religion "in crisis" worldwide, prompting backlash from Muslims.

[6] Two weeks later, Samuel Paty, a history teacher, was accused by an unnamed student of showing his classes offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Following these events, and Macron's defence of the cartoons in particular, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a boycott of French products.

[3] A bomb disposal unit responded to the crime scene, while heavily armed anti-terror police officers patrolled the streets around the basilica.

[20] According to Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Aouissaoui received a notice informing him that he was being expelled from Italy for illegal entry and had until 9 October to leave voluntarily, but his movement was not monitored.

After the prayer he went to the train station and spent some time there before making his way to Notre Dame de Nice, as detailed by Jean-François Ricard, chief of the antiterror prosecution unit Parquet national antiterroriste [fr] (PNAT).

[23][24] In an interview with Al Arabiya after the attack, Aouissaoui's mother said she had been surprised when her son called to inform her he was in France, since he did not know the language or anyone there.

A neighbour told Al Arabiya that Aouissaoui worked as a mechanic and in other odd jobs while in Tunisia, but did not show any signs of radicalisation.

[15][18] French chief anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-François Ricard said that the suspect had not been on any intelligence agency's radar as a potential terrorist threat.

[26][27] The third person killed was a 44-year-old Brazilian-born Frenchwoman who escaped from the church with several stab wounds, but collapsed and died at a nearby café.

"[2][30] Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese rejected calls to resign amidst accusations from the country's right-wing opposition parties that her department was responsible for Aouissaoui not being deported to Tunisia.

"[33] In a week where the Turkish-French relations were under tension, Turkey released a statement expressing their condolences to the French people, saying that "no reason could legitimise or excuse killing someone or violence.

[35] Uruguay released a statement expressing its deepest concern over the attack and the desire to convey condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims, to the people and Government of France.