Strasbourg attack

Attacker’s aide sentenced to 30 years in prison

In the trial for the terrorist attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market over five years ago, a jury court in Paris has sentenced one of the perpetrator's accomplices to 30 years in prison. Two other defendants received prison sentences of four and five years respectively.

By procuring weapons, the 42-year-old main defendant had helped the perpetrator, whose Islamist radicalization was known to him, to carry out his terror plans, the court ruled on Thursday evening.

The court sentenced two other defendants, who also helped to procure weapons without knowing about the attack plans, to prison terms of four and five years. Another was acquitted. Five people were killed and eleven others injured in the attack in 2018. An appeal against the sentences is still possible.

Assassin killed in exchange of fire
Islamist Chérif Chekatt attacked people with a firearm and a large knife in alleyways and squares in the Alsace metropolis of Strasbourg on the evening of December 11, 2018. He initially managed to escape in a cab. Two days later, following a manhunt in the French-German border region, he was killed in a gun battle with officers in Strasbourg.

The terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack. Chekatt had sworn allegiance to IS in a video. The attacker, who had multiple criminal convictions and North African roots, is said to have become radicalized in prison and was known to the authorities as an Islamist threat.

Weapons found in apartment before attack
Only hours before the attack, weapons - including grenades and knives - had been found during a search of his apartment. The police had wanted to arrest the 29-year-old for attempted murder, but the man was not at home. His father informed him that the police had arrived - Chekatt then apparently decided to carry out his planned attack that evening.

In addition to the victims who were killed and injured, a large number of immediate eyewitnesses were also severely traumatized. Around 1000 people sought psychological help after the attack and many are still receiving treatment.