A calmer atmosphere at the trial of the November 13 attacks. The interrogation of Salah Abdeslam, interrupted on Tuesday March 15 after a series of incidents which caused the departure of the defense lawyers, was able to resume on Wednesday, without however bringing any revelations.
The only surviving member of the commando responsible for the attacks, dressed in black and without a mask, was questioned about his role in preparing the attacks. He was questioned in particular about his function as a driver to go and recover, in Hungary and Germany, a dozen jihadists from Syria, including most of the three commandos from Paris, to bring them back to Belgium. Salah Abdeslam recognizes two of the five trips listed by the prosecution.
“A lot is expected of me and I don’t have the information” civil parties are waiting for, he said. The civil parties “want information that I don’t have”. The accused remained equally vague about why he had been chosen, and by whom, to pick up the jihadists returning from Syria by car. “I was a regular. I knew quite a few rental agencies and had already rented a lot before”said Salah Abdeslam. “I have a driver’s license… I don’t know… Not everyone has a driver’s license”he advanced to explain himself.
Incomplete answers
“There is someone behind all this but it changes nothing to know all this”, continued the defendant. His lawyer explained to him that a clear answer could help the court to judge him better. “The truth will be established on the day of resurrection. All will be revealed on that day”simply replied Salah Abdeslam.
Another lawyer questioned him about the cost of renting heavy-duty cars, fuel and highway tolls to make his round trips.
“I don’t remember how much it cost me, but what I can say is that it was not my personal money”, admitted the defendant. Asked about the people who financed his journeys, Salah Abdeslam replied in Arabic “The Islamic State”, without giving the slightest name of the individual involved.