To expose the horrors of Friday’s Paris terror attacks, a Paris court released audio recordings and photos from the event.
Some victims of the attack cried, while others fled the courtroom in shock.
It was a shocking end to the most important week of the long-running trial over the Islamic State attack on Paris’ Bataclan, cafes and France’s national stadion on November 13, 2015 that resulted in 130 deaths. This trial, which has thousands of plaintiffs is one of the most important in French modern history.
This week was crucial in shedding light on the events, according to lawyers and families of victims. However, many were frustrated.
Salah Abdeslam (the last member of the attack squad) and other suspected accomplices were finally questioned about the day. The attackers remained silent and refused to answer any questions. Meanwhile, the courtroom waited with breathless silence.
Abdeslam was finally able to speak briefly and expressed regret for not having detonated his suicide belt that night.
Salah Abdelslam said Wednesday that he didn’t make it all the way. “I stopped trying to put on (suicide belt), not out of fear or cowardice. That’s all.
Abdelslam left three attackers behind in a car and they then attacked France’s national soccer arena. This happened just moments after the France-Germany match began. Abdelslam claimed that he drove to Paris’ north, then took the metro to Montrouge’s southern suburb, where he concealed his explosives belt, claiming that he didn’t have the nerve.
Abdelslam claimed that he told his co-attackers the belt did not work “because I was ashamed of having not gone all the way.” I was afraid of the eyes and ears of others.” Abdelslam’s testimony was contradicted by that of an explosives expert from the police who told the court that suicide belts were defective.
On Friday, the court was presented with photos and audio recordings from the Bataclan concert hall. These images have never been published before.
The attackers entered the theater at the first recording. As the attackers fired their automatic weapons, the music from the stage performers — American band Eagles of Death Metal — could still be heard. The music stopped after the crowd cried and shouted. The shooting resumes.
The second recording was of the hostage-taking that followed. One victim spoke out saying “They’re going to blow everything up — they have explosives.”
The final assault was the result: A brawl of police gunfire, followed by explosions from the suicide belts of the attackers. Police ordered the evacuation. Go! “We’re running!”
These 20 photos include images taken around the Bataclan Hall — the entrance, the balcony, and the stairwell. There is blood everywhere. One of the victims is a group of 30 bodies found in the pit below the stage.
Some survivors wept as they watched the images. Another 20 people were visibly upset and left the courtroom as the audio began.
All of the attackers were killed on that night. Abdeslam, however, fled France to flee for the Molenbeek area in Brussels where he was raised. In March 2016, he was arrested. He was arrested in March 2016.
Jean-Louis Peries, the chief judge, spent an hour questioning Abdeslam during Wednesday’s key session. There was no answer.
Abdeslam finally agreed to answer questions from just one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers. Three days prior to the attacks, Abdeslam stated that he had planned to travel to Syria. He was not aware of the plot until Brahim informed him. Brahim Abdeslam, who had attacked a Paris cafe in Paris on November 13, 2015, blew himself up.
Martin Vettes and Olivia Ronen, Abdeslam’s attorneys, defended his refusal to speak. They stated that Abdeslam had “used his right to silence”, but decided to answer questions from one civil lawyer who “sought understanding” of what he had said.
Twenty people are being tried on charges of attack planning, weapons supply and logistical support. Many are believed to have died while fighting for the Islamic State group, which is based in Syria and Iraq. The trial will be completed in June.