the investigation entrusted to an investigating judge

The French investigation into the explosion that occurred on the car of French driver Philippe Boutron in Saudi Arabia during the last edition of the Dakar was entrusted in November to an investigating judge, we learned from a judicial source on Tuesday. The judicial investigation is open for attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise, according to the same source, confirming information from France Info.

On December 30, 2021, Frenchman Philippe Boutron was seriously injured in an explosion that hit his vehicle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second city. Five other people were also on board. A source familiar with the matter said in February that the only possible explanation for the origin of the explosion was the laying of a “improvised explosive device».

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat), which had opened a preliminary investigation on January 4 for attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise, had moved to Saudi Arabia at the end of January – beginning of February.

He was accompanied by investigators from the General Directorate of Homeland Security (DGSI) and technicians from the technical and scientific police, who were able to take samples from the vehicle and reach this conclusion.

No claims

Investigators havecertainty that the explosion was criminal, but there were no claims“, had reported to AFP a source close to the file in mid-November. According to this source, “the investigation essentially carried out by the Saudis did not lead“. The Saudi authorities spoke of a “accident“. But Paris stressed from the start that “suspicion of a criminal actwas not ruled out.

At the time of the explosion, Philippe Boutron was driving towards the stadium where checks were held on the cars to take part in the rally-raid, which began two days later.

«There was a big shock. We didn’t expect it at all. The bomb was put under the floor (of his support vehicle, editor’s note) and I took the floor under my legs“, he told France Bleu Orléans at the end of January.

«He’s starting to recover well, he’s not 100% on his leg yet, but almost. His rehabilitation is going quite well and he will be at the start of the Dakar as normal again in one or two years.“, assured AFP last week the boss of the rally-raid David Castera.