The question of stopping the 2022 edition of the Dakar “arises”. This was estimated by Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on BFMTV this Friday morning while Phillippe Boutron was seriously injured in the explosion of his vehicle in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia before the start of the race, Thursday, December 30. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation in Paris for attempted terrorist assassinations. “Seriously injured”, Philippe Boutron is “out of a coma”, his son announced on RMC.
“On the Dakar, it may be a terrorist attack. We thought that maybe it was worth giving up on this sporting event (…). The question remained unanswered, ”he declared. Earlier this week, several members of Philippe Boutron’s team, some of whom were in the same with him at the time of the explosion, had also mentioned the thesis of the attack.
He demands “the greatest transparency” from the Saudi authorities
“In these cases, you have to be very careful, at least put in place sufficient and reinforced protection devices. I think they did, but in any case the question remains open, ”added Le Drian, calling on the Saudi authorities to“ be as transparent as possible ”. “We told both the organizers and the Saudi officials that we had to be very transparent about what had just happened, because there were hypotheses that it could be a terrorist act”, noted the chief. of French diplomacy.
“What can produce an explosion under a vehicle if not an explosive device?” The bomb, because you have to call things by their name, was placed under the spar, in other words under a part placed under the pilot’s pedal, which explains why Philippe was the only one injured, ”explained Marie-France Estenave. , one of the managers of the Gironde Sodicars Racing team.
“It is not an accident but indeed a bomb attack! »Wrote on his side Mayeul Barbet, the co-pilot of Philippe Boutron