The Islamic State claims were carried by the Amaq News agency, which regularly issues reports from the extremist group,
French officials say Bouhlel, a Nice delivery man, was behind the wheel as his truck crashed into a crowd of revelers at a fireworks display Thursday.
Bouhlel was killed by police. His direct connection to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has not been established. Investigators say Bouhlel was a petty thief not known to intelligence services.
Meanwhile, Paris' prosecutor’s office said that five people are in custody following the attack. Their identities were not released.
France is observing three days of national mourning in homage to the victims.
The claim of responsibility from the Islamic State came as French security chiefs met in Paris, Nice’s seaside boulevard partially reopened to traffic and more details about those caught up in the incident emerged.
Alain Boutahra, a 42-year-old Nice native, witnessed the truck barreling through the crowds on the Promenade des Anglais here on Thursday. His thoughts turned immediately to his 14-year-old daughter, who had left his side shortly before the attack.
“She was on her way home. She couldn't answer the phone," he said. "She was running. I was very afraid. After an hour, I saw my child was OK. I was grateful.”
The search for loved ones has been one of the most gut-wrenching aspects of this latest episode of terror in France, the third major attack in less than two years.
The chaos disrupted Bastille Day festivities, which brought thousands of people to the promenade. Investigators have found themselves needing to identify injured victims who are still unconscious as well as the dead, a scenario that has complicated the search for missing loved ones.
“I haven't accounted for all of my family or friends,” said Boutahra. “I'm very afraid. I'm going to a hospital to see if there is someone (there).”
Shortly after the attack, a Twitter feed and Facebook page called SOS Nice were created. These were flooded with desperate appeals for information about the missing.
One of these was from Sophi Gironi.
Gironi was mentoring American Nick Leslie, a 20-year-old University of California, Berkeley, student who was participating in an entrepreneurship program in Nice. Leslie is still missing.
“We all hope,” said Gironi, who knew Leslie for just two days before he went missing.
For others, there is already good news.
Clara Casciana was one of the people listed as missing early Friday morning. But around eight hours later, the site said someone had seen her.
“Clara is safe,” SOS Nice tweeted.
38 Photos
Truck kills dozens in Nice, France
Patrick Costello reported from Berlin
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