How Security Guards Saved Thousands Of Innocent Lives During The Paris Attacks
The attacker had aimed to detonate his vest inside France's national football stadium.
By Sadho Ram — 15 Nov 2015, 03:12 PM
Over 100 people were massacred during the ghastly Paris attacks on Friday the 13th. However, that number would have been in thousands if not for the quick thinking of few security guards.
The on-duty security guard — who asked to be identified only by his first name, Zouheir — said that at least one of the attackers outside France's national soccer stadium had a ticket to the game and attempted to enter the 80,000-person venue, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The attacker was discovered wearing an explosives vest when he was frisked at the entrance to the stadium about 15 minutes into the game. France was playing a friendly exhibition football against Germany inside.
After being challenged at the gate, the attacker blew himself up
While attempting to back away from security, Zouheir said, the attacker detonated the vest, which was loaded with explosives and bolts, according to Paris prosecutor François Molins. Zouheir, who was stationed by the players’ tunnel, said he was briefed on the sequence by the security frisking team at the gate.
A police officer confirmed the sequence, adding that police suspect the attacker aimed to detonate his vest inside the stadium in order to provoke a deadly stampede.
Around three minutes later, a second person also blew himself up outside the stadium. A third suicide attacker detonated explosives at a nearby McDonald’s, police said. One civilian died in the attacks, police said.
wsj.com
The blasts occurred during the first half of the game, sowing confusion throughout the stadium, although loud blasts aren't uncommon at football matches on the European continent where fans sometimes set off firecrackers, reported the WSJ
At first, Zouheir said he too thought the early blast was a firecracker.
Then his walkie-talkie came alive with chatter, and he noticed that French President François Hollande—who was in attendance at the Stade de France—was being ushered out of the stadium.
wsj.com
French President Francois Hollande is pictured in the security control room at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis during the international friendly soccer match between France and Germany
Image via WSJ/AP"Once I saw Hollande being evacuated, I knew it wasn't firecrackers," said Zouheir, who could see the VIP box from his post. He added that President Hollande left after the first blast.
The game continued for the regulation 90 minutes.
A video Zouheir shot on his phone Saturday showed the gate where the suicide bomber was turned away and what appeared to be blood and viscera on the sidewalk outside the gate. On Saturday, street-cleaning crews spent several hours hosing down the area.
wsj.com