"I would like to say today that I have not killed or injured anyone, not even a scratch": these are the words of Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the jihadist commandos who carried out a massacre in Paris on the night of November 13, 2015, questioned at the maxi trial.
"Since the beginning of this story, he has not stopped slandering me. 'Slander, slander', advised Voltaire - added Abdeslam - something will remain".
The terrorist said today in the courtroom that the attacks in the name of ISIS were nothing more than "military operations". When asked the reasons for his involvement, he said he was "shocked" by the videos of the air strikes conducted in Syria by the international coalition.
The 2015 attacks were "operations to defend against the coalition bombing the Islamic state," he said. "Was it an operation to target a concert hall and restaurants?" asked the president of the court. "They worked with the means they had - Salah replied - if they hit civilians it was because they wanted to impress the minds".
The commando that evening in the Bataclan above all, but also in other clubs and restaurants, killed 130 people, injuring 350.
Abdeslam also denounced the severity of penalties in terrorism cases: "In the future - he said - when someone is in the subway with an explosive suitcase, and who at the last moment wants to back down, he will know that he has no right to do so, since he will be locked up in prison and humiliated ".
Then his attack on the Western world which "imposes its ideology on the rest of the world. For us Muslims it is a humiliation. I support the Islamic State, I am with them, I am for them, I love them". The accused added that he had never left for Syria, even though the company had "crossed his mind".
Abdeslam swore allegiance to Isis in early 2015, when his brother returned from Syria.
(Unioneonline / L)