The 2015 Paris attacks remain a focal point in investigations into international terrorism. A male survivor, Salah Abdeslam, spoke at length about the events during a recent hearing related to the massacre in Paris. He described the aim as triggering a fresh eruption in the 18th arrondissement of the French capital, highlighting how plans were laid to intensify violence in that district.
The testimony aligns with claims made by ISIS on the day of the assaults, which referenced a subsequent operation in the same neighborhood. The consistency between Abdeslam’s account and ISIS statements has reinforced questions about the coordination and scope of the attacks in Paris and the surrounding areas.
Throughout the proceedings, the main figure in the case broke his silence regarding issues that had not been clarified during earlier inquiries. As the accused was questioned about his escape from Paris, he indicated a willingness to speak and encouraged the judge to proceed with the questions.
Abdeslam indicated that his brother Brahim, who was involved in the Bataclan assault, spoke of a specific mission assigned to him. He also named Abdelhamid Abaaoud as the mastermind behind the operation, without revealing all prior details. Although Abdeslam initially stated that France would be the target, he later admitted to preparing for an attack that would have involved him directly. He described wearing an explosive belt the day before the attacks and claimed that a change in plans occurred when he was persuaded to proceed with the operation in France.
The testimony recounts preparations that included a visit to a cafe where the attackers planned to strike with Brahim the day before. The two had rented an apartment in Bobigny, just east of Paris, and on November 13, they were involved in preliminary steps such as purchasing explosive devices for the planned actions at locations including the Stade de France. Abdeslam stated that on the same day he drove around the city to scout the area in advance.
After dropping off two suicide bombers near the Stade de France, the focus shifted to the 18th district as the next intended target. He described sitting in a cafe, ordering a drink, and surveying the surroundings before deciding not to proceed with the attack there. He then returned to his vehicle, and a mechanical failure forced him to consider alternate routes.
A few kilometers away, the vehicle eventually broke down and the plan evolved toward travel on foot, followed by a taxi ride to a quieter area where the explosive belt could be discarded. The belt ended up several days later in Montrouge, in the southern part of Paris, where Abdeslam claimed the device was placed in a discreet location and the detonation mechanism was removed.
In the days that followed, Abdeslam and his companions hid in an abandoned house. He received a phone call that led to contact with a friend, Mohamed Amri, who was in Belgium at the time. The call was important because Amri was the only contact Abdeslam could recall by heart, which he used to facilitate the exchange of materials and information.
Throughout the proceedings, Abdeslam emphasized that he did not know all the other targets and that his brother Brahim was part of the commandos. He acknowledged that the plan involved violence but insisted he did not know the exact directions of the other operatives. After the escape to Belgium, Abdeslam remained in hiding for several months before a later arrest on March 18, 2016. The testimony thus sheds light on the dynamics and uncertainties surrounding the attackers and their operational network.
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