New twist in the terrible affair that affected the businessman Philippe Boutron as he was about to take the start of his ninth Dakar Rally. Last Thursday, while driving an assistance vehicle, the 61-year-old was the victim of an explosion in his vehicle for no apparent reason. Seriously injured in this accident, the pilot was repatriated to France overnight from Sunday to Monday. His relatives are also very pessimistic and worried about the possibility of a double amputation in the legs.
Taking place in Saudi Arabia this year, the Dakar Rally started on January 1 without Philippe Boutron. Following this serious incident, the national anti-terrorism prosecution announced late Tuesday thatan investigation was to be opened for “attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise”. The one who is also president of the football club of US Orléans was not alone at the time of the facts since 5 people were accompanying him in the vehicle. Fortunately, none of them were injured, but for Thierry Richard, who was in the vehicle, the explosion is not in doubt, it is a “attack”.
We saw the impact under the vehicle. We are not stupid, we know that it is also an explosion
Asked by AFP, the latter recounts the scene: “We saw the impact under the vehicle. We are not stupid, we know that it is also an explosion. We took a breath in the car”, he assures, before concluding “We were blown up”. If the Saudi authorities had quickly ruled out the criminal track, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, quickly called his nationals to the “maximum vigilance”.
Also present at the time of the accident, Mayeul Barbet, co-pilot of Philippe Boutron, goes in the same direction as Thierry Richard. “Philippe was at the wheel and the bomb placed in the spar under the crankset exploded after driving 500 meters past the hotel! “, he declares in remarks reported by L’Équipe.