Gwladys Laffitte, edited by Gauthier Delomez 4:56 p.m., September 20, 2021, modified at 4:57 p.m., September 20, 2021

Investigators testify at the November 13 trial to recount the details of the research that followed that night of horror nearly six years ago.

A remarkable experience for these professionals on the trail of terrorists.

On Europe 1, one of them admits having been "inhabited" by this investigation.

TESTIMONY

Alongside the victims of the November 13 attacks, investigators are also called to testify during the historic trial, which opened on Wednesday, September 8.

An equally painful moment for these professionals who keep the night of November 13, 2015 in mind.

Among those who will testify, Europe 1 met a head of the criminal brigade at the time of the facts, who insisted on remaining anonymous.

He tells how investigators tracked terrorists and the difficulties they encountered.

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"Despite the scale of the scenes, the difficulty is to be very exhaustive", reports the sergeant.

"We approach each of these scenes of attack as we would approach the homicide of an old lady in a small apartment. We do it with as much care. The stakes are huge," he said at the microphone of Europe 1.

"Investigators specializing in all areas"

This head of the criminal brigade then details the organization of an extraordinary investigation, with countless ramifications.

"We have people who are specialized in fields, and this survey is based on valuing their skills. We are creating workshops, there is no longer a history of groups, of sections," he explains. by ensuring that the teams are made up of "the best telephone operators, those who have the most skills to work on video surveillance".

Then the head of the criminal squad evokes his role.

“Our job is to link all these different workshops. We did a review several times a day, once in the morning, another in the afternoon. work on it, ”he says.

A professional and human adventure

Beyond the stakes and the pressure of the investigation, the head of the criminal brigade remembers a deeply human experience, when he and his teams tried to find the terrorists.

"These are moments that we do not forget," he says.

"We don't go home very much. When it was possible, I remember two nights spent going over phone numbers and saying to myself 'hey, so-and-so was perhaps related to such-and-so. do not really leave us, we are still inhabited by that ", supports the head of the criminal brigade.

This one emphasizes the proximity born between the colleagues. "We always have ideas in the morning. When we come back to the service in the morning, we are eager to share them. Links are forged. We really feel like we have shared something. You have to be present, and I hope we did, "says the head of the criminal squad.