“It was not an accident but a bomb attack at the Dakar Rally and they asked us not to speak,” says one of the people who escaped the explosion unharmed | Other Sports | sports

With the passing of the days, the strange incident of last December 30 is becoming clearer. A vehicle, the 260 for the transfer of mechanics and parts, with six people on board, all of them members of the Sodicars team, suffered an accident in the vicinity of the Donatello Hotel in Jeddah. Mark from Spain

As a result, five of them were unharmed but the French Phillipe Boutron, president of the US Orleans, French third division soccer team, suffered significant injuries to his legs from which he had to be operated on and repatriated to France, where he was admitted to the Clamart Military Hospital.

“The vehicle came to a sudden stop due to an explosion, although the origin of it is still unknown at this time, without ruling out any possibility, including a malicious act, “said the organization, ensuring that security was reinforced. They are still investigating what happened together with the Saudi police and there is no official verdict yet.

However, for co-driver Mayeul Barbet, things are pretty clear: “It was not an accident but a bomb attack! despite the insistence of the Saudi authorities who maintain the accident thesis and the explosion of the engine! ”.

Para Barbet, “The bomb placed under the pedals exploded after having traveled 500 meters after the hotel. At that time we were six occupants, we were shocked and without moving. Then the car started to catch fire and Philippe asked me to help him get up from the seat. He no longer felt his legs! I saw the magnitude of the damage helping him and having notions of first aidI immediately made him tourniquets because he was losing a lot of blood ”.

“The ambulance arrived about twenty minutes later … Then everyone responded. The organization alerted by Richard (González), the medical service, the French consulate … Then they asked us not to talk about it, which we did “, he assures.

Afraid

The rest of the Sodicars Racing team is still in the race, although Richard González, in front of truck 548, ensures that inside the cabin “everyone jumps at the slightest noise”. He also revealed that it was Boutron who urged him to compete.

Another of the team members, Joel Pally, assured upon his return to France that Suddenly, the airbags exploded. The vehicle continued to advance 100 meters, before coming to a stop of its own accord. It started to smell burning. We left very fast, except for Philippe who we had to get out because the truck was starting to burn. His co-pilot reacted incredibly as he was losing a lot of blood. “

Pally physically escaped the blast unscathed, but not mentally: “You want to cry. You cry … there are photos you can’t count. Let them call it what they want, but in fact it is a malicious act. An explosive device that was placed there ”. (D)