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Carlos the Jackal denounces latest France terror trial | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan man behind a series of attacks in France in the 1970s and 80s, has appeared in court to denounce being prosecuted over a deadly Paris shopping centre attack. | |
He condemned "scavenging" lawyers and "Zionist interests". | |
Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is already serving two life terms for killings in the name of Palestinian and communist causes. | |
But he denies carrying out a grenade attack on the centre in September 1974. | |
Two people were killed and 34 others were injured in the attack. | Two people were killed and 34 others were injured in the attack. |
Kisses | |
In an often rambling statement in the Paris court on Monday, the 67-year-old said that any murders he had committed were carried out in the name of "the revolution". | |
"No-one has executed more people than me in the Palestinian resistance," he said, "[and] I am the only survivor. In all the fighting, there were collateral victims, it's unfortunate," he said. | |
Wearing a jacket with a red pocket handkerchief, Ramirez smiled and blew kisses upon first appearing in the dock before kissing the hand of his lawyer and long-term partner, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre. | |
He then embarked on a diatribe in which he condemned wealthy "Zionist interests" who he said were eager to crush anybody who stood up to Israeli aggression. | |
He said that lawyers prosecuting him for the shopping centre attack in Paris 43 years ago were "scavengers" for forcing him back to court. | |
Carlos the Jackal was given his nickname when he was one of the world's most wanted terror suspects. | |
He spent years on the run before being captured in 1994 in Sudan. | |
Ms Coutant-Peyre on Monday described his latest trial as a waste of time and money. | |
"What exactly is the point of having a trial so long after the events?" she said. | "What exactly is the point of having a trial so long after the events?" she said. |
But Georges Holleaux, a lawyer representing the victims, said the families wanted the chance finally to see him in court. | |
"The victims have been waiting so long for Ramirez to be judged and convicted. Their wounds have never healed," he said. | "The victims have been waiting so long for Ramirez to be judged and convicted. Their wounds have never healed," he said. |
In a newspaper interview which he later disavowed, Ramirez allegedly said he had carried out the attack in a bid to persuade France to release a Japanese communist militant. | In a newspaper interview which he later disavowed, Ramirez allegedly said he had carried out the attack in a bid to persuade France to release a Japanese communist militant. |
Who is Carlos the Jackal? | Who is Carlos the Jackal? |
Ramirez was dubbed Carlos the Jackal by the press, named after the fictional terrorist in the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel, The Day of the Jackal, which was turned into a popular film. | Ramirez was dubbed Carlos the Jackal by the press, named after the fictional terrorist in the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel, The Day of the Jackal, which was turned into a popular film. |
Born in Venezuela, he was considered one of the most notorious political terrorists of the 1970s and 80s. | Born in Venezuela, he was considered one of the most notorious political terrorists of the 1970s and 80s. |
By the age of 24, he had joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and began his training as a militant revolutionary. | By the age of 24, he had joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and began his training as a militant revolutionary. |
A few years later, he launched his first attack - on Joseph Edward Sieff, the then president of the Marks and Spencers retail chain in London. Sieff, a prominent Jewish figure, survived a gunshot wound to the head. | A few years later, he launched his first attack - on Joseph Edward Sieff, the then president of the Marks and Spencers retail chain in London. Sieff, a prominent Jewish figure, survived a gunshot wound to the head. |
The self-professed "professional revolutionary" has since been found guilty of four bomb attacks in Paris and Marseille in 1982 and 1983, which killed 11 people and injured 150. | The self-professed "professional revolutionary" has since been found guilty of four bomb attacks in Paris and Marseille in 1982 and 1983, which killed 11 people and injured 150. |
He was first convicted by a French court 20 years ago, and again in 2011 and 2013. If convicted of first degree murder charges, he could get a third life sentence. | He was first convicted by a French court 20 years ago, and again in 2011 and 2013. If convicted of first degree murder charges, he could get a third life sentence. |
Ramirez was arrested in the Sudanese capital in 1994 by elite French police, 20 years after the first attack for which he was accused. | Ramirez was arrested in the Sudanese capital in 1994 by elite French police, 20 years after the first attack for which he was accused. |
What are the attacks Ramirez was involved in? | What are the attacks Ramirez was involved in? |
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