Twenty men who participated in the deadly 2015 Paris terror attacks have been convicted for their roles.
The attacks occurred on the evening of November 13th across Paris, France, and claimed the lives of 137 people, including seven terrorists. In total, 416 people were also injured. The assailants carried out suicide bombings and mass shootings across various areas, including the Bataclan theater, cafes, and France’s national stadium. Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving ISIS terrorist from that incursion, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder, among other charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The 19 other defendants have also been found guilty. Their roles in the carnage varied. Some were charged as accomplices to murder, while others were convicted of taking hostages during the attacks and transporting the accused. At least one of the men is accused of directly participating in the deadly March 2016 Brussels attacks. Their sentences ranged from two years to life in prison. Several walked free, credited with time served.
Abdeslam expressed remorse during the trial but maintained that the attacks were carried out as a result of French-led airstrikes in Syria. He asked the victims for forgiveness but would not condemn ISIS ideology. During the chaos, Abdeslam wore a suicide belt, but it malfunctioned.
