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Although SDAT have cited articles 53 and L706-24 of the prosecution procedure and article R642-1 of the penal code, authorities in Nice interviewed by Le Figaro say that it is the first time they have ever been asked to destroy evidence at a crime scene - something they point out is illegal.
The explanation given by the French Ministry of Justice is that they don't want 'uncontrolled' and 'non-authorised (non maîtrisée) diffusion of the images of the terrorist attacks. The Judicial Police have noted that 140 videos of the attacks in their possession show 'important pieces of the inquiry' (éléments d'enquête intéressants). The French government claims it wants to prevent ISIS from gaining access to videos of the attacks for the purposes of propaganda. They also claim that the destruction of evidence is intended to protect the families of the victims. The comments section of the Le Figaro article is replete with outrage and disgust by the fact that the French government, instead of preserving evidence for the purposes of a thorough, independent investigation, is in fact behaving rather more like the chief suspect in the attack - ordering the destruction of vital evidence.
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Comment: Though there is nothing at this time to suggest that the attack in Nice was a false flag, Gladio B type of event, or actually in some way connected to ISIS - and was, in fact, the act of a dangerously deranged individual - it seems as though the French government (out of force of habit) must still inject itself into the strict control of information. Perhaps it "anticipates" future events like those at Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan theatre that will require more 'war on terror' narrative control.