All you had to do was copy the story from a proper newspaper, and you failed Daily Mirror.
The world is so desperate for a Muslim Hero. Writing about the horrendous events in Paris on Friday night we have this classic example of shoddy journalism and Chinese whispers. And when one can’t be found you better invent one. From the Daily Mirror in the UK:
A suicide bomber who tried to enter France’s packed 80,000 capacity national football stadium was stopped by a heroic security guard.
Thousands of supporters watching France’s friendly against Germany heard two loud explosions outside the Stade de France about 15 minutes in.
The guard – identified only by his first name, Zouheir – said he discovered the attacker’s suicide vest while searching him at the entrance.
The attacker detonated the vest as he backed away from security said Zouheir, who was told what happened by the security team at the gate.
A police officer said the suspect may have aimed to detonate his vest inside the stadium in order to provoke a deadly stampede, reports WSJ.com.
Which even links to this long piece of REAL JOURNALISM as published in the Wall Street Journal. Compare the stories. I’ve highlighted an important detail.
The guard—who asked to be identified only by his first name, Zouheir—said the attacker was discovered wearing an explosives vest when he was frisked at the entrance to the stadium about 15 minutes into the game. France was playing an exhibition against Germany inside.
While attempting to back away from security, Zouheir said, the attacker detonated the vest, which was loaded with explosives and bolts, according to Paris prosecutor François Molins. Zouheir, who was stationed by the players’ tunnel, said he was briefed on the sequence by the security frisking team at the gate.
A police officer confirmed the sequence, adding that police suspect the attacker aimed to detonate his vest inside the stadium in order to provoke a deadly stampede.
Displaying proper journalistic integrity, the WSJ notes that they have two sources (whose identities are presumably known to the reporter even if not disclosed to the reader) and they corroborate each other.
And they’re not the only ones who can’t read. This link is getting lots of love on Reddit:
Web Desk: A heroic Muslim security guard identified by the name Zouheir saved thousands of lives on Friday by preventing a suicide bomber from entering France’s packed 80,000 capacity national football stadium Stade De France.
According to WSJ.com. a suicide bomber who tried to enter France’s packed 80,000 capacity national football stadium was stopped by a heroic security guard. Thousands of supporters watching France’s friendly against Germany heard two loud explosions outside the Stade de France about 15 minutes in.
The problem here is that The Daily Mirror and others are desperate to assume the guard is both a hero and a Muslim. He was absolutely not the one to turn away the suicide bomber!
It would be nice (but relatively insignificant) if true, I’ve no reason to think it’s impossible, but there’s no way the Daily Mirror knows one way or the other without getting out of their offices in London and going and finding who actually stopped the bomber at the gate.
This was identified and exposed by Matthew Kalman on Facebook.
