National stadium to host France match on Paris attack anniversary
PARIS, France — Eleven years to the day since the November 2015 Paris attacks, the Stade de France will on Friday host a sports match for the first time on that anniversary.
Three suicide bombers struck outside the stadium shortly after 9:00 pm on November 13, 2015 during an international football friendly between France and Germany.
Four people died, including the three suicide bombers, but almost simultaneously, a series of shootings and bombings were launched at restaurants and the Bataclan music venue in central Paris.
In total, 130 people were killed, while more than 400 were injured, including close to 100 critically.
Two victims later committed suicide.
Before Friday night's Nations Championship rugby clash between France and South Africa, a tribute will be held to the victims of those attacks.
"We will have a moment's pause for the events of that date and we will think about the families and the victims who are still suffering," France coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday.
"And we will think about our republic of course, which is also suffering."
On Wednesday, on Armistice Day, France captain Antoine Dupont and his half-back partner Maxime Lucu laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on behalf of the team to remember those who died during World War I.
"I'm a citizen of the republic and we are all citizens of the republic. The French team is a citizen of the republic and we have a series of events centred around November 13 -- reflection, remembrance and, above all, a chance to ask questions about our society and the role we have in this society," added Galthie.
Twice before, France's football team had played a match on November 13, against Kazakhstan in 2021 and Ukraine last year, but both ties were played at the Parc des Princes in southwest Paris instead of the national stadium.
