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THE SOLE SURVIVING member of the jihadist team that carried out the November 2015 Paris attacks apologised to the victims at the end of his trial testimony.
“I wish to express my condolences and offer an apology to all the victims,” Salah Abdeslam told the court in a sometimes tearful statement.
“I know that hatred remains… I ask you today that you hate me with moderation,” he said, adding: “I ask you to forgive me.”
The comments marked a dramatic end to three days of testimony by Abdeslam, who in the initial stages of the trial had maintained a rigid silence apart from occasional outbursts against the court.
Abdeslam, the main trial suspect after the other jihadists were all killed during or in the wake of the attacks, has said in his testimony that he had planned to blow himself up in a crowded bar but stopped after seeing the people whom he was about to kill.
One of his defence lawyers, Olivia Ronen, during cross examination of her client, asked him if he did not regret carrying out his plan until the end.
“I don’t regret it. I didn’t kill these people and I didn’t die,” he replied.
“I would like to say today that this story of November 13 was written with the blood of the victims. It is their story, and I was part of it,” he added.
“They are linked to me and I am linked to them,” he said in a quivering voice, before issuing his apology.
Addressing the wounded and those who lost loved ones: “I know this (the apology) is not going to heal you.
“But if it can do you any good, if I could do any good for one of the victims, then for me it’s a victory.”
The attackers killed 130 people in suicide bombings and shootings at the Stade de France stadium, the Bataclan concert hall and on street terraces of bars and restaurants on 13 November, 2015, in France’s worst peacetime atrocity.
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Wow…Nice one Journal you deleted comments from at least 4 people…tell me, are your offices based in China
He can absolutely shove
If he knew of the plot, played his part in the plot and did not try to halt the plot he was morally part of the atrocity. After listening to the evidence in the trial and giving his testimony he seems to have had second thoughts about the morality of the project. It doesn’t absolve him from French justice. In the eyes of the God he professes to believe in he may be granted mercy.
To be fair to him, he didn’t go through with his part in the end. Although he bears some responsibility, should he be held responsible for the crimes of others?
@John Fagan: stop it there John. He’s as guilty as much as the rest of them. He knew the plot all along. Why didn’t he let the authorities know beforehand. He’s only looking forgiveness now that he’s caught
@John Fagan: nothing fair to him, nothing. You said he didn’t do his part, a simple phone call to police could have stopped everything
@John Fagan: Is that some kind of wind up?
Whos sorry now.
Era that is ok so, all is forgiven.
“The sole surviving member”. R sole would have been a better description.
O.M.G imagine having to live with all that blood on your hands ,because he can talk his weasel words all he likes but he does bear responsibility .As most people on here have said he could have prevented it but didn’t .
Moderation , no chance .
have your say