Europe

The unknown Hero at the Stade de France

In the attacks in November 2015 in Paris, a suicide bomber tried to get into the football stadium. A folder was in the way and prevented a disaster. At the European Championships, he is back on the Post.

For Salim Toorabally it is a special place to return to an old work. In the preliminary round match of the European football championship between Germany and Poland, the stadium folder controlled German travellers at the entrances to the Stade de France. Bags and backpacks open, to dangerous items search. Memories are awake to the 13. November 2015, as the German national team played against the French. A friendly match in front of 80,000 Fans, a boisterous mood.

The suicide bomber on him immediately

As one of around 1000 folders Salim Toorabally had to throw control to this day, service: cards, keeping a watchful eye on the Fans. At the turnstile to the entrance to L a young man falls to him who wants to without tickets into the stadium. “He claimed to be a friend in the stadium, have his Ticket,” says Toorabally. “He wanted to get the ticket and me then.” The behavior of Bilal Hadfi makes Toorabally suspicious. “He was not like the others, he was under pressure, he wanted to the stadium.”

Police operation following the attacks in Paris

As the game kicks off at 21.00, Bilal Hadfi still in front of the stadium. On the radio Toorabally has informed the stadium management, and his colleagues at the other inputs on the young man. Hadfi not make it to the Stade de France – just as other members of the suicide commandos. Shortly after the start of the game the first bomber detonates vest his Explosives in front of the stadium. A little later, Bilal Hadfi trophy size in the air. The terrorists snatch a passer-by with death, more people injured, some seriously. All of this is happening in the immediate vicinity of vigilante Toorabally. He runs to the scene of the crime, to provide first-aid. “There was blood everywhere and I had no gloves. I still see the skin scraps of the suicide-bomber, the leg of the injured stuck“, remembers Toorabally.

The stadium folder to save hundreds of football fans life

Toorabally is from Mauritius, he came as a youth with his parents to France. That he should suddenly be from a simple folder to the heroes, was the 43-Year-old only days later. On photos from the Police, he recognized one of the self-appointed Holy warriors, who were killed in the attacks of Paris, a total of 130 people. The man who wanted to slip in without a ticket, through the turnstile at the entrance to L. Because he had stopped him and his colleagues warned, has Toorabally prevented a disaster and hundreds of football fans saved the lives of.

First Toorabally wanted to never work again in football games. “Every time, if there is somewhere a stop, the all high,“ he says. However, now the wax man, even a football fan, again at the stadium. He knows: Since the start of the European football Championships in France, security is the biggest challenge. The country is still under the shock of the Islamist motivated terrorist attacks of the last year. Since the outbreak of violence around, some of the games, the care of a rampaging Hooligans grows in addition.

Highest level of security during the European championship in France

Radical Islamists in the services of guard services?

Experts criticize the safety concept of the French Fans would do it again and again, to smuggle fireworks-the body in stages. In addition, checks are for the safety of the stadiums, especially of private security services. Normally, the only building secured against intruders. For large events with thousands of people, you were not trained at all, criticized Patrick Haas, editor of the journal “En Toute Sécurité“. Costs recruited reasons, the company often in the migrant Milieu, to check without their employees. “There are guards, which have committed themselves to radical Islam. And, of course, in sensitive areas,” says Haas. He assumes that there are men, there are several hundred, as radical Islamists, known.

Also Toorabally is the practice in the industry is critical. Who is used for large events, should be accurate to be reviewed. Toorabally is even a Muslim, but the liberality of the French law goes to him. In addition, all security guards should be trained better in the civil protection, he says. The assassination attempt in November, he was one of the very few folders that didn’t know what to do: Toorabally was a First-aid training.

A lively atmosphere among the Fans at the Stade de France

Presidential award for the heroes of the Stade de France

For his use of the wax man from Mauritius has been honored now by the highest authority. He is particularly proud of a personal invitation of President Francois Hollande, has thanked Toorabally. “He has said to me: you are an example for the whole industry.“

Toorabally want to continue to make a good Job. At the last game at the Stade de France, 75,000 people came. The euphoria is great, especially after the entry of the French into the knockout stages of the CHAMPIONSHIP. Toorabally remains on guard at the Stade de France – so that in the future nothing happens.