METALLICA Project Manager Thomas Ayad Among Dead In Paris Terrorist Attack
November 18th, 2015
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Mercury Records international product manager Thomas Ayad, who has worked with Metallica, is confirmed to be among those who died during the attack at Californian rock group Eagles Of Death Metal’s Paris concert on November 13th, 2015.
Metallica issued the following statement: “We had great fortune to work with Thomas Ayad at Universal Music France for the past eight years and while Thomas had the official title of being our ‘project manager’, we knew him as a member of our Metallica family, a fan, a friend… and a warm, helpful, supportive familiar face each time we visited France. Friday we lost Thomas, at the Bataclan theatre, in a way that none of us can begin to comprehend. Our thoughts are with Thomas’ friends, family, co-workers and all Parisians during these very difficult times.”
Paris, France underwent a series of fatal attacks the evening of the 13th, attacks which encompassed shootings, bomb blasts and a hostage siege which have left at least 132 people dead and 352 injured. Six places were targeted in all, with each attack co-ordinated.
France has declared a state of emergency, imposed border controls and deployed 1,500 extra troops.
In nightlife occasions in the 10th district of Paris, close to the Place de la Republique, the attacks began. At roughly the same time, witnesses heard an explosion outside the Stade de France, where the national football teams of France and Germany were playing before a sold-out crowd.
Initial reports of gunfire were reported at Le Carillon bar at 18 rue Alibert. A firecracker was initially accredited for the noise, until witnesses realised a masked man was firing a semi-automatic gun, with one witness stating he saw a non-masked man leaving a car with a heavy calibre weapon. The man was then seen crossing the road, focusing his attention on the restaurant Le Petit Cambodge (Little Cambodia). The gunman shot at least 12 individuals during the attack on the bar and restaurant.
A shooting was reported nearby just minutes later, near the Canal St. Martin. A car was reportedly left riddled with bullets, as well as a motorbike being abandoned on the ground. Subsequently, an attack took place at diners a few streets south of rue Alibert, on the terrace of La Casa Nostra pizzeria in rue de la Fontaine au Roi. A man was seeing firing a machine gun.
At 21:30pm in the northern area of Paris, France were competing against Germany at the Stade de France stadium in an international football friendly. Broadcast on national TV channel TF1, President Francois Hollande was in attendance.
Roughly 30 minutes following kick-off, the first of three explosions were heard. Each explosion was audible in the stadium, with Hollande being immediately taken to safety following the second one. It later emerged that three suicide bombers had blown themselves up at two fast food outlets and a brasserie near the stadium. According to French media, this was the first occasion France had experienced such bombings. A portion of the crowd moved onto the pitch in panic at one point, a match which France won 2-0. Following the match’s conclusion, players watched the developing news on monitors inside the tunnel.
Subsequent reports of shootings occurred to the south of the initial restaurant attacks at roughly 21:50pm, at La Belle Equipe bar in the rude de Charonne in the 11th district. Two men were witnessed opening fire, firing bullets at the terrace of the cafe. At least 19 people died during the shooting, the two men returning to their car and heading towards Charonne station.
At 22:00pm, an attack occurred at the Bataclan hall in Boulevard Voltaire in the 11th district. Californian rock group Eagles Of Death Metal were performing before a 1,500-seat audience, which was sold out. Four attackers stormed inside from the rear, and fired several rounds at the crowd with Kalashnikov assault rifles. To date, at least 82 people have been reported as dead. Fans had tried to reach the stage by climbing over others cowering over the floor, but the attackers ultimately gunned these down. Some fans escaped while the gunmen reloaded their Kalashnikovs.
Members of Eagles Of Death Metal and Madagascar support act White Miles escaped unharmed, although Eagles Of Death Metal merchandiser Nick Alexander was among the dead. Aged 36 and from Colchester, Essex, Englishman Alexander previously worked with the likes of Sum 41, Panic! At The Disco, and Underoath.
Also among the dead was Bataclan stage and lighting manager Nathalie Jardin.
One of the attackers was reported to have shouted “God is great” in Arabic, while another witness heard a gunman blaming the attack on Hollande for intervening in Syria. The attackers took the concert goers hostage, and so Hollande held crisis talks with both Prime Minister Manuel Valls as well as Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. A live address on national TV from Hollande took place shortly before midnight, announcing a state of emergency throughout France as well as a tightening of border controls. Elite security forces stormed into the concert hall, following orders, the siege concluding when three of the gunmen blew themselves up using suicide belts, while a fourth was shot dead.
Additional attacks were reported during the evening, including an attack on the Boulevard de Beaumarchais close to the Bastille. Police identified eight attackers in all, with all of them deceased. Nevertheless, police are still searching for potential accomplices, the attacks clearly co-ordinated affairs.
On January 7th, two brothers forced their way into the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 18 people.
