“We hear sirens and helicopters everywhere. We don’t know anything, because I’m on a competition jury right now and nobody wants to interrupt…”
Elian Reiss, renowned pianist of Verviers of international fame, was in Istanbul, Turkey this Sunday. The explosion occurred at Istiklal shopping street around 4 pm (local time) today. 50 to 60 gunshots were also heard in Chishane area.
The pianist was at the French high school of Notre-Dame de Sion, where an international piano competition is held, in which he participates as a member of the jury. Then she tried to inform herself, but it was not easy.
“They’re cutting the internet… perimeter is closed, match ends in 5 minutes,” she replied in a message shortly before 4:30 p.m.
A photo taken by Verviétoise at the scene of the attack, hours before the attack this Sunday. – ER
A crisis meeting was held with the tournament organizers around 5 pm.
We were able to reach her on the phone after 6:30 p.m., and she was at a restaurant located next to the school, with the entire competition judging panel.
