Bataclan co-accused ‘knew nothing of plot’

THE main defendant in the Bataclan attacks trial yesterday insisted his coaccused knew nothing about the jihadist plot, in a courtroom outburst that led the judge to halt proceedings.

Salah Abdeslam, the sole survivor of the group that killed 130 people, went on trial with 19 others this week over the November 2015 suicide bombings and gun assaults on bars, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall in Paris.

“They helped me, but they knew nothing at all” about the plot, said Mr Abdeslam, 31, of three of his co-accused.

“They are in prison but did nothing,” he said, asking when the victims of wars in Syria and Iraq would be allowed to testify at the trial. Judge Jean-louis Peries then cut off Mr Abdeslam’s microphone and suspended the hearing.

“You have had five years to comment, you did not wish to make statements – as is your right. I understand now that you want to speak, and that’s fine – but now is not the time,” Mr Peries said.

Mr Abdeslam has refused to speak to investigators since his arrest in Brussels in 2016, but has proved vocal in court. On Wednesday, the first day of the trial, he spoke about how he and other defendants were treated “like dogs”.

The trial over the attacks will be one of the largest and most complicated in French history. Hearings are expected to last nine months, and it will take most of the first week just to list the 1,800 plaintiffs, represented by 300 lawyers.

Six of the accused are being tried in absentia, presumed killed in Syria, while the rest are behind bars in France.