This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/world/europe/salah-abdeslam-convicted.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Salah Abdeslam Convicted for Shooting Police After Paris Attacks | Salah Abdeslam Convicted for Shooting Police After Paris Attacks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| PARIS — Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to be the only surviving member of the group that carried out a series of coordinated attacks in and around Paris in 2015 and then in Brussels five months later, was convicted on Monday and sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting at the police in the Belgian capital while he was on the run. | PARIS — Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to be the only surviving member of the group that carried out a series of coordinated attacks in and around Paris in 2015 and then in Brussels five months later, was convicted on Monday and sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting at the police in the Belgian capital while he was on the run. |
| The Brussels Criminal Court also convicted Sofien Ayari, who was with Mr. Abdeslam at the time of the fusillade and sentenced him to the same 20-year term that prosecutors had sought for both men. | The Brussels Criminal Court also convicted Sofien Ayari, who was with Mr. Abdeslam at the time of the fusillade and sentenced him to the same 20-year term that prosecutors had sought for both men. |
| Mr. Abdeslam, 28, who has French citizenship, and Mr. Ayari, who is Tunisian, faced trial on charges that included possession of illegal weapons and attempted murder in a terrorist context. | Mr. Abdeslam, 28, who has French citizenship, and Mr. Ayari, who is Tunisian, faced trial on charges that included possession of illegal weapons and attempted murder in a terrorist context. |
| The two men were accused of shooting and wounding four Belgian and French police officers who were searching for them in southern Brussels, four months after the attacks in Paris and the northern suburb of St.-Denis that left 130 dead, and days before two deadly attacks in Brussels, one at the main airport and another on a subway train. | The two men were accused of shooting and wounding four Belgian and French police officers who were searching for them in southern Brussels, four months after the attacks in Paris and the northern suburb of St.-Denis that left 130 dead, and days before two deadly attacks in Brussels, one at the main airport and another on a subway train. |
| “The silence of Abdeslam, apart from his few remarks in court, makes it reasonable to fear that he has not taken the right measure of his actions or that he is sinking into silence. His dangerousness remains intact,” said Judge Marie-France Keutgen. | “The silence of Abdeslam, apart from his few remarks in court, makes it reasonable to fear that he has not taken the right measure of his actions or that he is sinking into silence. His dangerousness remains intact,” said Judge Marie-France Keutgen. |
| Sven Mary, Mr. Abdeslam’s lawyer, described the rulings as “creative” and said that he would look into filing an appeal. Mr. Mary argued that although Mr. Abdeslam was present at the time of the police raid, he did not open fire and there was no evidence that he had even picked up a gun. | |
| Prosecutors responded that he was at the scene of a shooting that took place as part of a terrorism investigation and that he was prepared to use a firearm. | |
| Mr. Abdeslam and Mr. Ayari escaped after the shootout, fleeing out of the back of a house and climbing over adjacent rooftops. A third man, who had been hiding in the house with them, was killed by the police. | Mr. Abdeslam and Mr. Ayari escaped after the shootout, fleeing out of the back of a house and climbing over adjacent rooftops. A third man, who had been hiding in the house with them, was killed by the police. |
| The trial did not include any charges directly related to the planning and execution of the attacks in Paris; proceedings in that trial are not expected to start for several years. | The trial did not include any charges directly related to the planning and execution of the attacks in Paris; proceedings in that trial are not expected to start for several years. |
| Contrary to some expectations, the trial revealed little about the broader conspiracy and attacks because it focused narrowly on an individual episode — the shooting of police officers — and because the two defendants refused to testify beyond giving very brief statements. | Contrary to some expectations, the trial revealed little about the broader conspiracy and attacks because it focused narrowly on an individual episode — the shooting of police officers — and because the two defendants refused to testify beyond giving very brief statements. |
| The trial, which took place in February, was the first chance for most people to get a glimpse of Mr. Abdeslam and to hear his side of the story. | The trial, which took place in February, was the first chance for most people to get a glimpse of Mr. Abdeslam and to hear his side of the story. |
| But in keeping with his past conduct, Mr. Abdeslam revealed almost nothing. He refused to attend the trial after the first day. After initially giving the impression that he might talk about the case, he instead went on a tirade about the justice system and said it was biased against Muslims. | But in keeping with his past conduct, Mr. Abdeslam revealed almost nothing. He refused to attend the trial after the first day. After initially giving the impression that he might talk about the case, he instead went on a tirade about the justice system and said it was biased against Muslims. |