Zouheir discovered the attacker wearing a vest loaded with explosives when he frisked him at the entrance to the stadium about 15 minutes into the game, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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The attacker had a ticket to the game and attempted to enter the 80,000-person venue. The attackers all wore identical explosive vests. “I am continuing with my plans to attend the match, which were set a few weeks ago, and to show solidarity with the people of France and the victims of terror everywhere”, he said in a statement.
A police officer confirmed that the attacker meant to detonate his vest inside the gallery to trigger a fatal stampede.
France midfielder Lassana Diarra’s cousin Asta Diakite died during the attacks, while forward Antoine Griezmann’s sister survived the siege at the Bataclan theatre, where 89 people were murdered as gunmen stormed the building during a concert by American rock band Eagles of Death Metal.
Although the Paris attacks are as unbelievable inhumane as it could get, one shudders to only think of what might have happened if Zouheir had not intervened on time.
The blasts occurred during the first half of the match, causing confusion among players and spectators inside the stadium. Then his walkie-talkie came alive with chatter, and he noticed that French President Francois Hollande-who was in attendance at the Stade de France-was being ushered out of the stadium.
FFF president Noel Le Graet said France was ready, although it appeared the players may not have been consulted.
Earlier, police officials said at least one of the suicide bombers who targeted another site, France’s national stadium, was found to have a Syrian passport.
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One fan said that although he began getting news alerts on his mobile phone about the attacks in Paris, he didn’t immediately make the connection with the blasts heard at the stadium, believing the loud noise to be firecrackers.
