The trial of 20 men accused in a series of co-ordinated attacks on Paris in 2015 that spread fear across Europe and transformed France opened on Wednesday in a custom-built complex embedded within a 13th-century courthouse.
When asked to state his profession, he declared he was “a fighter for Islamic State” after intoning a prayer. “The events that we are about to decide are inscribed in their historic intensity as among the international and national events of this century,” he said.Dominique Kielemoes, whose son bled to death at one of the cafes, said hearing victims’ testimonies at the trial will be crucial to both their own healing and that of the nation.
“We were expecting it, and we were prepared for it and in fact, we’re not expecting anything from him,” Kielemoes said after Abdeslam first appeared. Survivors of the attacks as well as those who mourn their dead on Wednesday packed the complex’s rooms, which were designed to hold 1800 plaintiffs and over 300 lawyers.
France changed after that night: Authorities immediately declared a state of emergency and now has armed officers constantly patrolling public spaces. The attacks sparked soul-searching among the French and Europeans more broadly since most of the perpetrators were born and raised in France or Belgium. And it transformed forever the lives of all those who suffered losses or bore witness to the violence.
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Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »
Trial of 20 men accused in 2015 Paris attacks beginsIn a custom-built secure complex embedded within a 13th-century courthouse, France on Wednesday opened the trial of 20 men accused in the Islamic State group's 2015 attacks that left 130 people dead and hundreds injured. 9News
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »