5.53AM AEST: French government calls on citizens to help boost security forces

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Saturday called on young citizens to become reservists and help boost security forces in the wake of the country’s latest terror attack.

France’s “operational reservists” include French citizens with or without military experience as well as former soldiers.

“I want to call on all French patriots who wish to do so, to join this operational reserve,” said Cazeneuve.

His call comes after the government has been criticised for not doing more to stop attacks.

The Islamic State group has said it was behind Thursday’s truck massacre in Nice which left 84 people dead and many more injured.

It was the third major Islamist attack which France has suffered in the past 18 months.

–AFP