A terrorist attack cannot be ruled out in the explosion outside a hotel – France’s foreign minister calls for the rally to be cancelled
France’s anti-terror authorities have started investigations into the explosion that happened near a hotel in Jeddah shortly before New Year’s Eve. Philippe Boutron, a participant in the Dakar Rally, was seriously injured in the legs and had to undergo emergency surgery. In the meantime, Boutron is in France in a military hospital near Paris. He has also woken up again from an artificial coma.
Was the bomb that exploded in the front of the car from French team Sodicar a terrorist attack? “Maybe,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian replied in an interview with ‘BFM TV’.
“We have made it clear to the organiser and the authorities that it is necessary to be very transparent about this incident because there has been speculation about a terrorist attack. There have been terror attacks against French interests in Saudi Arabia before. ”
“That is why it is important to protect and warn our citizens. That’s why we demand as much transparency as possible. That’s why the matter has been handed over to the national anti-terrorist authority. The situation is that there may have been a terrorist attack against the Dakar.”
The French company Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) is responsible for organising the Dakar Rally. In January 2008, the rally in Africa had to be completely cancelled. Shortly before, four French tourists had been killed in Mauritania.
Jean-Yves Le Drian (@JY_LeDrian): "Il y a peut-être eu un attentat terroriste contre le Dakar" pic.twitter.com/QVmDzk5uQg
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) January 7, 2022
The French government recommended the cancellation at the time because there had been threats against the rally from terrorist organisations. ASO subsequently moved the rally from Africa to South America. Since 2020, it has been held in Saudi Arabia.
A cancellation of the rally is said to be on the cards this time as well. “We have thought about whether it would be better to cancel this sporting event,” says France’s foreign minister. “The organiser has decided to go ahead.”
“In such cases, you have to be very careful.” So would an abandonment have been justifiable? Le Drian says: “There should have been at least adequate, reinforced security. I think they did that, but the question [of aborting] is still on the table. ”
