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Killer Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was parked up on the Promenade des Anglais for almost nine hours before his horrific attack after telling police he was 'delivering ice cream', according to reports.

The 31-year-old French-Tunisian later drove the lorry he had hired two days before through packed crowds who were headed home after Bastille Day firework celebrations, killing at least 84 people.

Online news reports have emerged claiming Bouhlel, who worked as a delivery driver according to Nice Matin, had told police he was dropping off supplies of ice cream.

They allowed him to stay on the busy road for almost nine hours before the attack and failed to check his vehicle - where he had stashed a cache of guns and grenades.

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Officers have now raided the home of the father-of-three described as a ‘drug-taking wife beater who never went to Mosque’ by his wife's cousin.

(Image: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror) (Image: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror) (Image: Daily Mirror/Phil Harris)

He was previously convicted of road rage, according to Reuters.

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He was known to police in connection with common law crimes such as theft and violence.

Investigating sources said his last appearance in court was as recently as March, when he was found guilty of violent conduct.

The former wife of the man is currently being questioned by police.

The attacker was not known to the intelligence services, suggesting he has not previous background in terrorism offences.

The fact he was not on the watch list will be of grave concern as an investigation into last year’s Paris attacks identified multiple failings by France’s intelligence agencies.

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Revised figures say 84 people - including 10 children - have been killed and another 202 injured.

(Image: Wenn)

Of the injured, 52 are in a critical condition with 25 of those in intensive care, according to French prosecutor Francois Molins.

Horrifyingly at least 30 of those injured are believed to be children. One of the images to emerge from the scene shows a covered body with a child's doll lying next to it.

Video and images from the scene show the crowds tightly packed as the white lorry ploughs through the middle of them.