Life without parole for surviving extremist in Paris terror attacks

The lone survivor of a team of so-called Islamic State extremists has been convicted of murder and other charges and sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2015 bombings and shootings across Paris that killed 130 people in the deadliest peacetime attacks in French history.

Among the victims was Briton Nick Alexander, 35, of Weeley, near Colchester.

Mr Alexander died at the Bataclan concert hall, where he was selling merchandise for the band Eagles Of Death Metal.

The special court also convicted 19 other men involved in the assault following a nine-month trial.

Chief suspect Salah Abdeslam was found guilty of murder and attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise.

The court found that his explosives vest malfunctioned, dismissing his argument that he ditched the vest because he decided not to follow through with his part of the attack on the night of November 13 2015.

The killings at the Bataclan concert hall, cafes and the national stadium led to intensified French military action against extremists abroad and a security crackdown at home.

Abdeslam, a 32-year-old Belgian with Moroccan roots, was given France’s most severe sentence possible.

The sentence of life without parole has only been pronounced four times in the country, for crimes related to rape and murder of minors.

Of the defendants besides Abdeslam, 18 were given various terrorismrelated convictions, and one was convicted on a lesser fraud charge.

They were given punishments ranging from suspended sentences to life in prison.

Arthur Denouveaux, who survived the Bataclan massacre, appeared tired but relieved the trial was over.

“I hope to be able to put the word ‘victim’ into the past,” he said.

“When things like this happen you have no repair possible.

“That’s why you have justice,” he said, even if “justice can’t do everything.”

Salah Abdeslam.