Salah Abdeslam in court as trial for 2015 Paris attacks opens

The biggest trial in France's modern history has begun for suspects linked to the 2015 Paris attacks.
One hundred and thirty people were killed in the country's worst post-war atrocity.
Key defendant Salah Abdeslam is believed to be the sole surviving member of the group of nine gunmen and suicide bombers who struck within minutes of each other at several locations – including the Bataclan concert hall and a sports stadium – on November 13, 2015.
Abdeslam appeared in court dressed in black and wearing a black face mask, obligatory because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked what his profession was, the 31-year-old removed his face mask and told the court defiantly: “I gave up my job to become an Islamic State (ISIL) soldier.”
It is not known whether Abdeslam will speak again during the trial that is expected to run for more than nine months.
ISIL has claimed responsibility for the 2015 attacks.

Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports from Paris, France.

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