Credit: Chapman BaehlerEagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has alleged that the terrorist attack on the band's show at the Bataclan in Paris last November could have been an inside job. In an interview with Fox Business, Hughes suggests that the security staff at the concert hall had knowledge of the planned attacks.
"When I first got to the venue and walked in, I walked past the dude who was supposed to be the security guard for the backstage. He didn't even look at me," Hughes remembers. "I immediately went to the promoter and said, 'Who's that guy? I want to put another dude on,' and he goes, 'well some of the other guards aren't here yet,' and eventually I found out that six or so wouldn't show up at all."
Hughes didn't want to make a definitive statement about what be believes may have happened due to the ongoing police investigation, but he did say, "It seems rather obvious [the other guards] had a reason not to show up."
In response to Hughes' claims, a rep for the Bataclan has issued a statement to Variety, which calls the EODM singer's allegations "insane."
"Jesse Hughes spread some very grave and defamatory accusations against the Bataclan teams," the statement reads. "A judicial investigation is undergoing. We wish to let justice proceed serenely. All the testimonies gathered to this day demonstrate the professionalism and courage of the security agents who were on the ground on November 13. Hundreds of people were saved thanks to (these agents') intervention."
Eighty-nine people were killed when terrorists opened gunfire on the Bataclan November 13. Last month, Eagles of Death Metal played their first headlining show in Paris since the attack.
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