It was a harrowing night of terror that traumatized Paris to this day. Islamists killed 130 people in a series of attacks six years ago. Now the trial against 20 alleged extremists begins.
Paris – In Paris, the trial of the Islamist terrorist attacks in the French capital begins almost six years ago, with 130 dead and 350 injured. Twenty suspects are charged, including Salah Abdeslam, who has already been convicted in Belgium. He is considered one of the main culprits.
A Paris jury specially put together for the trial negotiates with the highest level of security in a specially prepared room. 12 of the 20 accused face life imprisonment, against 6 the trial is conducted in absentia.
IS claimed attacks for itself
On November 13, 2015, a Friday, extremists caused a massacre in the “Bataclan” concert hall in Paris and shot 90 people there. They also shot at bars and restaurants in the east of the capital. In total, the attackers killed 130 people in various locations in Paris. In addition, three suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Stade de France during the international soccer match between Germany and France. The terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) claimed the attacks for themselves.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, there are 1,765 co-plaintiffs. At the start of the process, two days are reserved for calling everyone by name. Only on the third day does the court want to deal more broadly with the content of the allegations, which are based on 500 files containing the results of the investigation. Hundreds of witnesses have been summoned, including investigators from France and Belgium and then French President François Hollande, it is said. Initially, the process is scheduled until May next year.
In view of the dramatic extent of the night of terrorism, the victims and their relatives are given a space that is appropriate: over a period of five weeks, around 300 of them are supposed to describe their experiences. Every half an hour is given, 14 such statements are planned per day of the negotiation. dpa
