Hollande unveils commemorative plaque at Stade de France one year after Paris attacks
Record ID:
79065
Hollande unveils commemorative plaque at Stade de France one year after Paris attacks
- Title: Hollande unveils commemorative plaque at Stade de France one year after Paris attacks
- Date: 13th November 2016
- Summary: SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (AGENCY POOL) FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WAITING FOR PLAQUE UNVEILING CEREMONY TO BEGIN FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, ARRIVING FOR CEREMONY AND GREETED BY SAINT-DENIS MAYOR, DIDIER PAILLARD / VALLS GREETING VICTIMS AND LOVED ONES OF VICTIMS FRENCH FLAG COVERING COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WAITING FOR CEREMONY TO BEGIN (FROM LEFT) FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, CLAUDE BARTOLONE, VALLS, FRENCH JUSTICE MINISTER, JEAN-JACQUES URVOAS AND STATE SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF VICTIMS OF ATTACKS, JULIETTE MEADEL FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, ARRIVING AND BEING GREETED BY PAILLARD / HOLLANDE AND PAILLARD UNVEILING COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE / WREATH BEING BROUGHT TO HOLLANDE AND PAILLARD / HOLLANDE AND PAILLARD PLACING WREATH UNDER PLAQUE HOLLANDE, PAILLARD AND FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OBSERVING MINUTE'S SILENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) SON OF THE ONLY DECEASED VICTIM AT STADE DE FRANCE, MICKAEL DIAS, SAYING: "To finish, one year after that night on November 13th which changed my life, people still often ask me today, with a morbid curiosity, quite human at heart, how I manage to live after being denied my father in such an unjust and brutal way. As Jacques Brel (famous French singer) used to say, in the face of fear we have only love, love that was given to us, the love that we give, the love that no terrorist attack or false divinity could ever take away. Long live tolerance, long live intelligence and long live France." ATTACK VICTIM, BLEY MOKONO, WHO WAS JUST A FEW METRES AWAY FROM THE BOMBERS WHEN THEY SET OFF THEIR EXPLOSIVE VESTS, NOW IN A WHEELCHAIR PLACING BOUQUET OF FLOWERS UNDER PLAQUE / PLAQUE READING (French): "IN THE MEMORY OF MANUEL DIAS AND IN RESPECT TO THE MULTIPLE WOUNDED AND VICTIMS OF TERRORISM IN THIS PLACE, THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 13, 2015" ATTACK VICTIM GOING TO SPEAK WITH HOLLANDE FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL / HOLLANDE SPEAKING WITH MOKONO HOLLANDE LEAVING, END OF CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 28th November 2016 08:59
- Keywords: Francois Hollande France Paris Islamic State Stade de France stadium commemorative plaque November 13 attacks
- Location: SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE
- City: SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00158A0KZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French government officials and victims of the Paris November attacks gathered on Sunday (November 13) at the Stade de France national stadium for a commemorative ceremony to mark the one year anniversary since eight Islamist militants shot guns and blew explosive belts in different areas of the French capital killing 130 people.
At 22:57 (21:57 GMT) on November 13, 2015, two explosions were heard near the Stade de France where a France-Germany friendly football match was being played, with President Francois Hollande in attendance.
The match continued until the end but panic broke out in the crowd as rumours of the attack spread, and spectators were held in the stadium and assembled spontaneously on the pitch. After the match, police guided supporters outside the stadium.
A plaque in memory of the only deceased victim at the Stade de France, Manuel Dias, was unveiled by Hollande and Saint-Denis Mayor Didier Paillard.
Mickael Dias, the son of Manuel Dias said he would honour his father by fighting for tolerance and against discrimination.
"As Jacques Brel (famous French singer) used to say, in the face of fear we have only love, love that was given to us, the love that we give, the love that no terrorist attack or false divinity could ever take away. Long live tolerance, long live intelligence and long live France," he said.
Bley Mokono, who was just a few metres away from the bombers when they set off their explosive vests and suffered severe injuries as a result, also attended the ceremony.
Responsibility for the killings was claimed by the Islamic State group, which has called on its followers to attack France, which is bombing IS bases in Iraq and Syria. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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