January 2015 attacks: the first hours of a historic trial

REPORTAGE

On January 7, 8 and 9, 2015, from Charlie Hebdo to the Hypercasher, from Montrouge to Dammartin, a series of terrorist attacks shocked the country, plunged into horror, before a public outburst and massive mobilization on January 11 2015, never seen since the Liberation.

If the terrorists died during the assaults of the police, their accomplices are still alive.

Their trial began on Wednesday, at the Special Assize Court in Paris, five years after the facts, and should last at least two and a half months. 

>> READ ALSO -

 STORY

Tracking attacks, back on these three days which stunned France

An important police force

As the security checks are important, it is not easy to get into the courtroom.

The police deployment outside the court is significant, police dogs are present inside to detect possible explosives.

Always inside, the passage to the metal detector is obligatory.

On the side of the accused, who arrived handcuffed to their glass box, an exceptional escort was set up with police officers specializing in the transfers of high-risk detainees. 

Heard on europe1:

quote_europe1

My friends who are no longer there for you, you can be, so that you can continue to inform normally

This Wednesday morning, only a few representatives of Charlie Hebdo are present in the room.

If it finally allows justice to be done, this trial is also a historic moment that is intense for the newspaper's lawyer, Maître Richard Malka.

"Today, I think intensely of my friends who are no longer there for you, you can be, so that you can continue to inform normally without being afraid of dogmas, ideologies", he explains at the microphone Europe 1. "Charlie Hebdo, that's it. Let's not be afraid of terrorism or freedom."

>> Find all the newspapers of the editorial staff of Europe 1 in replay and podcast here

Two accused face life imprisonment

During the first two hours of the trial, the debates did not really begin.

The call for witnesses and experts was made, but in different rooms since, for lack of sufficient seats, the hearing is broadcast simultaneously.

As for the accused, they simply, at the invitation of the president, declined their identity.

Among the 14 present, two risk life imprisonment: Mohamed Belhoucine, who fled France just before January 2015 with the wife of Amedy Coulibaly, of whom he would have been the mentor and Ali Riza Polat, a former cellmate of Amedy Coulibaly.

The prosecution believes that he not only assisted in the supply of weapons, but that he was present at all stages of the preparation of the attacks.