ABU DHABI // In the moment when ISIL gunman Abdulkadir Masharipov opened fire on Francois Al Asmar and his friends as they danced in Istanbul's Reina nightclub, he immediately thought about a prayer his mother had taught him as a child, calling on angels for protection.
The 29-year-old Lebanese actor had travelled to Istanbul with friends for some work and to celebrate the New Year.
"My friends and I were dancing by our table when we noticed someone ducking down, making his way through crowds of people as if running away," Francois said.
"I remember thinking it was weird, but we then went and sat down at our table. He eventually approached us, lifted his weapon ruthlessly like in the movies, and the bullets started raining down on us."
"I don't remember how I ended up on the floor," he said. "My upper arm suddenly felt like a piece of rubber, a toy on the floor. It felt lifeless, like a balloon that had just exploded.
"All I could think of was my mother and how she would see me in this state. I stared at my fingers wondering if I could move them."
Francois said all of the friends he was with were hit by bullets. But after the horror of being shot, they then had pretend to be dead as the attacker walked over them to continue his killing.
"As we lay there on the floor, we whispered to each other to play dead so that he doesn't come back for us," Francois said.
"He stepped on my friend's hand. Thankfully, my friend didn't react.
"I eventually slouched and found myself in a pool of my blood. I started talking to the angels, asking them: didn't I just plead with you to protect me?
"I started shivering from head to toe as I heard an injured lady pleading with another to take care of her kids, but then there was silence. I think they died.
"I saw another man trying to wake up his wife. Since I studied drama, I looked around wondering whether they were acting or whether they were really dead."
Speaking from his home in Beirut as he recovered from the bullet wound in his arm three weeks after the attack, Francois recalled how he tried to remain conscious.
"I tried not to faint so that I keep control of staying alive. I kept telling myself: your legs aren't injured. Perhaps you can run."
None of his friends were killed but two who were injured, along with Francois, are still being treated.
As for what should happen to the perpetrator of the massacre, Francois said: "I pity the man who did this. I was asked on TV whether I think he should be put to death, but what I really want is to ask him if he even realises what he's done."
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld