Lone surviving terrorist in Paris attack that killed 130 gets life in prison without parole

Life in prison without parole has only been given four times in France
Salah Abdeslam, June 27, 2022, Paris, France

The lone surviving Islamic State terrorist who helped carry out the 2015 Paris attack that killed 130 people was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday.

Chief surviving suspect Salah Abdeslam, 31, was found guilty along with 19 other men involved in the attack after a nine-month trial in a special court, The Associated Press reported.

Abdeslam was convicted of murder and attempted murder related to a terrorist organization. Abdeslam, a Belgian with Moroccan roots, attempted to join the Nov. 13, 2015 attack, but his explosives vest malfunctioned, the court ruled. 

Life in prison without parole has only been given four times in France, all in crimes related to the rape and murder of children.

Eighteen other defendants were convicted on various terrorism-related charges and one received a lesser fraud conviction. Their punishments ranged from suspended sentences to life in prison.

The 2015 mass terrorist attack targeted Bataclan concert hall, the national stadium, cafes in Paris, and the suburb of Saint-Denis.  

Seven of the terrorists died in the attacks, which were carried out by three teams, The Guardian reported at the time of the incident.

Abdeslam admitted his radicalism during the trial and cried, apologizing to victims and asking for forgiveness for his "mistakes."