Less than 24 hours after the Paris attacks, we’re learning that things could have been so much worse.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, one of the attacker at the Stade de France was prevented from entering the building by stadium security about 15 minutes into the friendly between France and Germany.
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 also in attendance during the match and was evacuated soon after the attacks according to Deadspin. But as far as why the game wasn’t called and allowed to continue the full 90 minutes? Officials say they didn’t want to start a panic.
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.
One person is believed to have died at the stadium during the suicide bombing along with a number of other victims throughout the city last night.
The latest reports also point to one American being among the dead along two others injured.