Rabat – The long-awaited trial of the 20 men charged with the 2015 coordinated attacks that killed 130 people across Paris has finally started in the French capital.
Salah Abdeslam, a 31-year old French-Moroccan ISIS terrorist and sole surviving mastermind of the devastating Paris attacks in 2015, appeared before a French court this Wednesday September 8.
Abdeslam is believed to be the only surviving member of the group that consisted of nine gunmen and suicide bombers who launched attacks within minutes of each other at several locations on November 13, 2015.
The key defendant confirmed at the start of the trial that he is a “soldier in the organization of ISIS,” while answering a question about his profession.
He was implicated in the 2015 attacks, as evidence showed. He managed to escape to Belgium, where he was arrested four months later in the Molenbeek district of Brussels.
He was, therefore, extradited to France, where he was closely monitored. The European country’s most watched prisoner has been living in complete isolation for over five years.
The defendant criticized the French judicial system, saying that the accused are treated as though they are “dogs.”
When asked about the names of his father and mother, Abd al-Salam refused to answer, saying, “they have nothing to do with what is happening here.”
As for the statements of the other 13 defendants, they remained short and concise, with no similar fiery speeches and ideological messages. Rather, their testimonies were limited to short, hesitant, and confused answers.
The 2015 Paris attacks were carried out by gunmen wearing explosive vests, and targeted 6 bars and restaurants, the Bataclan music hall and a sports stadium, killing over 130 people, while ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The terrorist organization urged supporters to attack France because of its participation in the wars in Iraq and Syria.
Police have intensified security around the court in central Paris, and the defendants are expected to appear at the hearing behind a bulletproof glass wall.
Before the trial, survivors of the attacks and relatives of victims expressed their eagerness to hear testimony that would shed light on what happened and why.
