Malia Obama was secretly evacuated from France hours after the 2016 Nice terror attack when three men described as "suspicious Iraqis" were seen near her hotel, according to reports.
Obama, who was on holiday in Antibes to celebrate her 18th birthday, was taken to safety by U.S. Secret Service agents and French police around 2 a.m. on July 14, 2016. The evacuation occurred approximately three hours after a Tunisian Islamist drove a truck into crowds watching Bastille Day fireworks in nearby Nice, killing 86 people.
French police detained three brothers, in their 20s, who had been loitering outside the Royal Antibes hotel where Obama was staying with friends. Authorities at the time expressed concern that the individuals might have been connected to the terrorist attack.
Despite Obama's original plan to depart France the following morning, a decision was made to evacuate her that night. Laurent Alcaraz, a French police officer involved in the operation, told the newspaper Nice-Matin that about ten Americans met him outside the hotel, stating, "We're leaving in 30 minutes."
Obama and her friends were transported to the airport by a convoy of three police cars and Secret Service vehicles, where a plane was waiting to fly them back to the United States. Alcaraz stated he managed the route as he saw fit, ensuring their safe arrival, and noted it was the first time he had driven directly onto the tarmac.
The evacuation operation was kept confidential and has only recently come to light in French media following the tenth anniversary of the attack. Reports indicate Obama was staying at the hotel under the codename D-POTUS.
The three detained brothers, who had recently acquired Danish citizenship, were questioned by France's Directorate General for Internal Security. Their rental car, registered in Sweden, was also examined. They were held for 48 hours but released without charge after no connection to the terrorist attack was established.
The Nice attack occurred when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove a truck along the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds. A cache of weapons, including hand grenades, was later found in the vehicle.