Dakar rally car blast reportedly caused by a bomb

Philippe Boutron and Mayeul Barbet racing in the 2020 Dakar Rally. (Reuters)

PARIS — An explosion under a guidance automobile at the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia that injured French race driver Philippe Boutron on Dec. 30 was prompted by an improvised explosive unit, a French source familiar with the investigation explained on Friday.

Confirming a report by RTL radio, the source informed Reuters that investigators experienced uncovered traces of explosives on Boutron’s wrecked automobile in Saudi Arabia.

French International Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has reported that there were being suspicions of a terrorist attack, but Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry explained on Jan. 8 that an original investigation into the blast experienced not lifted any felony suspicions.

A 2nd explosion at the Dakar rally, underneath a truck belonging to the group of Camelia Liparoti on Dec. 31, is also under investigation by French police. French radio RMC mentioned the truck’s driver heard a “boom” in advance of a fireplace broke out.

French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into the explosion in January. French RMC radio reported that a group together with French DGSI top secret assistance agents and an investigating magistrate traveled to Saudi Arabia, in which the rally was held, for several times. They also questioned witnesses in France upon their return from Saudi Arabia.

French Overseas Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated at the time that “there were hypotheses” that the incident “was a terrorist assault”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry claimed on Jan. 8 that an initial investigation into the very first blast had not raised any felony suspicions. But French authorities said the Saudis had been cooperating with the investigation.

The Dakar Rally was at first a race from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, but it was moved to South The us for 2009-2019 simply because of political unrest in Africa. It was moved once again, to Saudi Arabia, in 2020.