End of inadmissibility. There is no “No additional element to talk about cancellation” of the Dakar, declared this Friday afternoon the director of the rally-raid, David Castera, a few hours after the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, raised this possibility. The question of stopping the Dakar-2022 rally in Saudi Arabia is “Pose” after the explosion which hit a vehicle and which is “may be” linked to a “terrorist attack”, had declared the minister in the morning on BFMTV. The minister’s entourage, however, later clarified his remarks by indicating: “The question that arises is what happened and not the possible suspension of the Dakar 2022.”
David Castera added: “We have reinforced security at the bivouacs, hotels, departures and arrivals”, without being able to give encrypted data.
The Saudi authorities quickly classified the explosion in the accident category, downplaying the facts while the organizers displayed their utmost caution. “We told the organizers and Saudi officials that we need to be very transparent about what just happened […] There have already been terrorist acts in Saudi Arabia against French interests, recalls Jean-Yves Le Drian, referring in particular to the attack in Jeddah in full commemoration of November 11, in 2020. It was important to protect our fellow citizens, to warn. ”
A preliminary investigation for attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise was opened Tuesday evening by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office. “French investigators will go on site”, specifies the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He adds that he “Must be very vigilant” as for the safety of the rally and the drivers.
At the question : “Should the Dakar have stopped?”, the minister showed himself clearly this Friday morning: “We thought maybe it was worth giving up on this sporting event […]. The organizers have decided to maintain it, you have to be very careful. ” And to press: “We must at least” that the organizers put “In place sufficient and reinforced protection mechanisms. I think they did it but in any case, the question remains unanswered ”.
Artificial coma
On December 30, while the pilot Philippe Boutron was going to the bivouac in the company of five other people, his car suddenly exploded 500 meters after leaving the hotel, without any other vehicle being involved. Philippe Boutron, 61, a seasoned Dakar driver, was going to run the legendary race for the ninth time.
He was repatriated Monday morning to France before being hospitalized in Clamart (Hauts-de-Seine), at the Percy military hospital. His son said Thursday that the victim had been released from the artificial coma that served “To alleviate his suffering”. In a press release, his team also mentions the presence “Many shards of plastic” in his lower limbs.
Update : at 3:56 p.m., with statements from the Dakar organizers.