Report: Suicide Bomber Tried To Enter France-Germany Game And Was Turned Away By Security

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, one of the attackers who detonated a suicide bomb outside of the Stade de France during last night’s France-Germany friendly had a ticket to the match and attempted to enter the stadium, when stadium security discovered his bomb vest. From the report:

The guard—who asked to be identified only by his first name, Zouheir—said 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 an exhibition against Germany inside.

While attempting to back away from security, Zouheir said, the attacker detonated the vest. 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.

French president Francois Hollande was evacuated soon after. As to why the game was not cancelled after the attempt to breach the stadium:

The game continued for the regulation 90 minutes. French soccer federation head Noel le Graet said that the information wasn’t communicated to the fans or the players in order to avoid a panic. Witnesses reported that news began to spread inside the stadium late in the second half.

[ Wall Street Journal]

Photo via AP