Among the 84 killed in last week’s terror attack on Nice, France was University of California, Berkeley student Nicolas Leslie. He was just 20 years old.
Leslie’s death was confirmed by the University in a statement released on Sunday. “This is tragic, devastating news. All of us in the UC Berkeley family — both here on campus, and around the world — are heartbroken to learn that another promising young student has been lost to senseless violence,” said UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks. “I join Nick’s parents, friends and the entire campus community in condemning this horrific attack, and in mourning the loss of one of our own.”
Leslie was set to begin his third year at the prestigious university in the fall. The environmental studies major was one of 85 participants working in Nice through a local summer entrepreneurship program. Up until Sunday’s confirmation of Leslie’s death, he was still considered “Missing,” and posters of him were plastered across Nice promenade.
Still missing. Sunday in Nice. pic.twitter.com/WBfnmGVmlv
— Cassandra Vinograd (@CassVinograd) July 17, 2016
Three other Berkeley students also suffered injuries after Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, the named perpetrator of the attack, drove a truck into the crowd celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais. According to NBC News, Vladyslav Kostiuk, 23, and Daryus Medora, 21, both broke their legs, while 20-year-old Diane Huang suffered a broken foot. This was the third terror attack France has failed to thwart within 18 months.
Leslie’s death comes just weeks after another Berkeley student, Tarishi Jain, was killed in a terrorist attack in Bangladesh. According to the statement released by the university, counselors are on campus and in Nice to help UC Berkeley students through this harrowing time.