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2015 Paris attacks accused offers 'condolences' to victims

Salah Abdeslam, 32, on trial in Paris along with 19 others over the shooting and suicide bombing attacks in and around the French capital in November 2015 by an Islamic State cell, which claimed the lives of 130 people, on Friday told the court that he wished 'to express my condolences and offer an apology to all the victims'.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The main defendant in the trial over the 2015 Paris attacks has apologised to victims at the end of his testimony, reports BBC News.

Prosecutors say Salah Abdeslam, 32, is the only surviving member of the so-called Islamic State cell that targeted Paris that night, killing 130 people.

"I wish to express my condolences and offer an apology to all the victims," he told the court.

Prosecutors say his suicide belt malfunctioned, but Salah Abdeslam said he had changed his mind.

He is facing charges of murder as part of an organised terrorist gang but is not accused of killing anyone personally. He began his testimony by pointing out that he himself had killed or injured no-one.

"I know that hatred remains... I ask you today that you hate me with moderation," Salah Abdeslam told the court in a tearful statement. "I ask you to forgive me."

His apology marked the end of his testimony, after remaining silent in the early days of the trial, apart from occasionally railing against the court.

One of his defence lawyers asked him if he regretted not carrying out his plan to kill.

"I don't regret it. I didn't kill these people and I didn't die," he replied.

"I would like to say today that this story of November 13 was written with the blood of the victims. It is their story, and I was part of it," he added.

"They are linked to me and I am linked to them," he said in a quivering voice.

See more of this report, with video, from BBC News.