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DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Seven people in total are now in custody after a lorry drove into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.  Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which killed 84 people and injured hundreds.  The 31 year old driver of the truck, Tunisian Mohamed Bouhlel was shot dead at the scene.  Well I am joined now by the French Ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, a very good morning to you and our condolences, Madame Ambassador.  Tell me first of all, can you give us any more information about the investigation, about these arrests?  As I was saying there, there are now seven people in custody.  

SYLVIE BERMANN: Yes, absolutely, that’s the only thing I can say for the time being because of course the inquiry is underway and those people have been arrested and questioned also.  

DM: But flowing from that is the intelligence implications.  We already know that the intelligence community in France is reeling from what happened in Paris, in Charlie Hebdo and with the Bataclan and failings were identified there but this kind of attack, is that something that the intelligence agencies are going to tell us, we can’t really nip these in the bud?

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I think it is very difficult because our intelligence services have been reorganised and there was high security but at the same time it is a new modus operandi and it is very difficult to follow everyone.  This man hasn’t gone to Syria as far as we know and has been quickly radicalised  and using a truck and some arms like this, it’s very difficult to do something against these kind of attacks.

DM: But we do hear, again we’re hearing these reports from sources that he’d actually driven the route and used reconnaissance techniques to work out what he was going to do.  

SYLVIE BERMANN: Yes, absolutely that’s what I’ve heard also but I can’t say more about that.

DM: But beyond that, well okay people are going to see if there are any CCTV images and obviously that will flow into the investigation but you mentioned there about the policing, there are also questions about the use of barriers, the lack of barriers and the small number of police it seemed that were policing the event.  

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I think that there was police but in fact it was very violent and it forced its way and afterwards it was very difficult to stop him because people tried since the beginning to shoot at him but well, it took time.

DM: There are questions for all of us that live in nations where people are free to gather and enjoy themselves and celebrate things or even go shopping or whatever it is they want to do.  Has this just changed the whole game, if I can call it that, entirely?

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I think it’s a new situation obviously because it is the third attack in France but we have to continue to live our lives.  I think in terms of security it has been enhanced  and also while the President decided to call in the operational reserves but you know, we’ve organised the Euro 16 without any problem and it was a huge event but we can’t prevent everything.  Since the beginning of the year we have arrested 160 people and we have prevented some terrorist attacks also in the last three years and they are going to continue to work, including with our partners, we have very close co-operation on intelligence with the British so we will continue to do that and reinforce it and of course draw lessons but it is very difficult when you have such kind of attacks by just one man and without criminal records, yes, because he was a petty criminal and used violence but he was not radicalised, he was not in our terrorist watch list.  

DM: And President Hollande has extended the State of Emergency, called up reservists but is there anything more you can tell us though about this suggestion that France’s allies, including the UK, could perhaps relieve some of the French forces stationed overseas of some of their responsibilities, to free them up to serve at home?

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I don't know what is going to be the decision, of course this will be taken in different security and cabinet meetings but we have a lot of people abroad but also we have 10,000 people here in, well on the streets of Paris and the whole country and they have been deployed and also supported by police and gendarmerie forces and so we will see what are going to be the decisions.  

DM: Just tell us personally, I don't know when you were most recently back home but just this sense of more and more armed forces on the streets, for reassurance, quite rightly so.  What is it doing to the character of France almost, what are people thinking, how are they feeling?

SYLVIE BERMANN: I don't think it changes radically because I know it is very different in this country but [??] has been deployed a long time ago and so I think we are used to it now but I think people are going on with their lives, we won’t cave in and they are going to be maybe, I don't know, other attacks at other times but it is still important to be stronger than them, to fight them in Syria and in Iraq and to prevent their attacks also in France but we are very resilient.  

DM: And can I just ask you on other matters here, we’ve heard today and I am going to be hearing from him a bit later on himself, David Davis the Minister heading up now the department to oversee Britain’s Brexit, Britain’s exit from the European Union and talking about EU nations in this country, of course hundreds and thousands of French citizens in the UK working here and Mr Davis saying that indefinite leave to remain for EU nationals protection only applies before a certain date.  You must be hearing a lot of concerns from French citizens who work in the UK.

SYLVIE BERMANN: Yes because a lot, we have I think 300,000 French citizens here in this country and of course they want their right to be respected, their work in this country, also their children so that is very important.  

DM: But this idea, and what Mr Davis is talking about that now the vote has happened, the idea that there might be a rush, there will be more EU nationals coming here who then have indefinite leave to remain, he is saying there has to be a cut-off point, that must be worrying and if that happens and is it something that then France would obviously look then presumably at British nationals residing in France.

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I think there will be a negotiation anyway for the time being, before Article 50 is triggered the UK is a full member of the EU so it doesn’t change immediately.

DM: Okay, and lastly can I ask you about, we had Dame Pauline Neville-Jones talking about the Bastille Day celebrations held in the French Embassy here and the Foreign Secretary was there, Boris Johnson.  I know he made a speech, are you glad, do you welcome his appointment?

SYLVIE BERMANN: Well I personally like Boris Johnson and I won’t comment on his appointment, he is now Foreign Secretary and we have to work with him.  I think while he is a Francophone and a Francophile and we are ready to work with him.

DM: We heard a bit of booing though, do you know who was doing that after his speech?

SYLVIE BERMANN: You know, I don't know who is doing this but in fact 80% of people in the French residence were British.  

DM: Okay, so it wasn’t you is what you’re saying!  Okay, Ambassador, good to see you, thank you very much indeed, Sylvie Bermann.

SYLVIE BERMANN: Thank you very much.