The French anti-terrorist unit in the prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the explosion that took place on December 30 in Jeddah.
It happened just before the start of the Dakar Rally, which is being held in Saudi Arabia this year. An attempted murder of more than one person linked to terrorism is being investigated.
The blast came in a Sodicars service truck, piercing the floor and injuring all six people traveling in it. Among them was French rally driver Philippe Butron, who had to compete in the team’s # 260 buggy car.
He was driving the car that exploded. The others were Mayol Barbe (his navigator), Philip Raud, Maxim Raud, Thierry Richard and Joel Paili. None of the five were seriously injured, they were farther from the explosion in the rear of the vehicle.
Butron is seriously injured, his legs were operated on, and he is currently in an artificial coma in a hospital near Paris. Probably some of the injuries to his lower body were irreversible, French doctors suggested.
It is almost certain that he will not be able to walk again without aids.
This year’s rally is entirely in Saudi Arabia, starting with Haalil in northern Saudi Arabia, moving east through the capital Riyadh and then across the southern desert to Jeddah.
In the past it was known as “Paris-Dakar” and only “Dakar” was held in Europe, North Africa, South America …
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