Slaughter of the mosque six months later: seven balls that have changed his life

Photo Simon Clark
Aymen Derbali has received after wearing a ball to the chin, three in the belly, a arm, one near the heart and another who is still stuck in the top of his back in his spinal cord.

Nicolas Lachance

On Saturday 29 July 2017 00:00

UPDATE
On Saturday 29 July 2017 00:00

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“I will never forget his face. These images come back to me all the time in my head. He was really determined. “

• READ ALSO: 24 hours of horror that have marked Quebec
• READ ALSO: to stay for his children

Six months to the day after the bombing at the great mosque of Quebec, Aymen Derbali told the Newspaper. The 40 year old man returns from far away. On the evening of the attack, advisor information technology, has received seven bullets in trying to deter the alleged shooter Alexandre Bissonnette to take his ” brothers “. In the hours that followed the tragedy, it has been called a hero by many for having attempted to disarm the killer, as the grocer and geologist Azzedine Soufiane, who has left his life.

Each day since, the forty-something woman is haunted by the gaze of the killer.

“I tried that the number of victims is minimized. I drew his attention to me, ” he told the Newspaper in the first interview granted since the sad evening of 29 January.

“I stared at the eyes. I was very close to him, ” he adds, voice low and broken.

A bullet in the spinal cord

Aymen Derbali has received after wearing a ball to the chin, three in the belly, a arm, one near the heart and another who is still stuck in the top of his back in his spinal cord. Fragments of bullets are also always embedded in its body. His courageous gesture will no doubt saved the lives of several people who were behind him.

“We were really caught in a trap. Everyone thought that it would be the next victim. He would have been able to kill most of the world. When he wanted to shoot at other people, his tank was empty. He was about to kill a person who was hiding a little girl under his body, ” says Aymen sitting in his wheelchair.

We met at the Institute of physical rehabilitation of Quebec, where he lived since he was released from the hospital. Every day, it multiplies the sessions of physical therapy and exercise to regain some dexterity in his upper body and learn to live without the use of her legs.

Recently, the diagnosis came : the father of three children will never walk again. It remains that it is a miracle that it has opened the eyes again after having been immersed for two months in a deep coma that had been caused by the doctors.

“My hour had not come,” he said.

Horror and justice

The clock, however, has not been easy. Nailed to his hospital bed, Aymen was struggling with high anxiety and was constantly bad dreams.

“The first month, I slept with medication. Insomnia, anxiety… of The course of events to me all the time, ” he says, eyes full of water, bathed in by those sad memories.

Still today, he hears the gunfire and the voices of the people who were at the mosque that evening. He sees dying in front of his eyes Aboubaker Thabti, his great friend of tunisia. He hears the cries of distress, the voices of his brothers.

To Aymen, it is hard to forgive the author of this slaughter. The important thing, says he, it is that ” justice is done “. According to him, the shooter had planned his act. “Everything was premeditated,” says the man.

He hoped that the accused will plead ” not madness momentary “, ensuring that the night of the attack, Alexander Bissonnette seemed to be in full control of his means. “He was determined. Then, it came to spotting beforehand. “

Live together

Aymen still has difficulty believing that such a gesture could occur in Quebec, a city he describes as peaceful and the one who met him 16 years ago. And, after having seen this horror, he admits that fear of new gestures of hate and he is worried for his children. But, this fear, he wants to fight and promotes peace.

“We must continue to live in harmony with our fellow quebecers. We must continue to open our doors and brave the fear and the awe, ” he finished, staring melancholy at the floor.

In need of a new residence – a Family is turned upside down

The long road to the return to the house is strewn with pitfalls for Aymen Derbali, his wife and three children. They will have to leave their apartment located on the fourth floor to a house adapted to the new physical condition of the father of the family.

The father of children 8 years of age, 4 years and 18 months does not like to beg. When asked if his family needs help, he refuses to talk about it.

The community is already mobilized to give him a helping hand.

There have also been donations that will help the family to rebuild their lives in a residence adapted to their new reality.

However, there is still a lot of work before that Aymen is unlikely to come back with her own people.

He will have to spend the next six months at the Institute for physical rehabilitation. “There are a lot of things to do “, he admits.

No question for him and his family to leave the city of Quebec, even after the tragedy. “I love the peace and quiet of the city and the serenity. Despite what happened, islamophobia is not very present. One feels that one is in security, says he. For my family… I want the best environment for my children. “

Since the attack, several members of the family also came to give a helping hand to his wife, Nedra Zahouani. This last admit that all possible help is welcome.

great mosque of Québec: exceptional security measures

Photo Didier Debusschère

Mohamed Labidi, president of the islamic cultural Centre of Québec.

The security measures are now ubiquitous in the great mosque of Quebec, while a dozen cameras, concrete blocks and automated doors have made their appearance six months after the attack.

“The concrete blocks, it has been offered by a Quebec in the wake of a terrorist attack in England “, explained Mohamed Labidi, president of the islamic cultural Centre of Québec (CCIQ). Thus, no vehicle can move in front of the entrance of the mosque and attack the faithful who enter or exit the prayer.

Photo Didier Debusschère

Many security measures have been added to the mosque, such as cameras and concrete blocks.

More cameras

In total, 16 cameras are installed in and around the cultural Centre, where you can see the parking areas and the parts of the place of worship. A control room, where the managers can view the images in real time, has been reconfigured.

“The cameras have been adjusted and reviewed by professionals “, said Mr Labidi. In addition, a screen is installed at the entrance of the mosque. During the prayers, a security officer is on site to observe the comings and goings as well as to open the door for people.

Also, at the beginning of the month of may, a system of secured doors has been installed. It now takes a magnetic card to enter the place of worship. Otherwise, you have to ring and wait for the responsible vienna open.

However, despite all these new security measures, the fear still haunts the muslim community.

“We try to pass the message that there is some form of security,” which meant Mr Labidi.

Photo Didier Debusschère

Six months after the sad events, one can still see traces of bullets inside the building.

Traces

Traces of the bombing are still visible in the mosque, six months after the events. Remains that the faithful see each other every day. For example, three bullets that are very apparent in the major windows of the place of worship.

The leaders of the CCIQ have decided not to repair it immediately due to the expansion project, which is expected to begin in the fall.

The facade of the building will be completely refurbished.

There is still a trace of a bullet in the door of the bathroom. “There was a survivor who was in the bathroom during the tragedy, said Mr Labidi. He fell face to face with the assailant. He had the reflex to stick on the wall to avoid the ball. “