Sid Ahmed Ghlam case

The Sid Ahmed Ghlam case (French: Affaire Sid Ahmed Ghlam) concerns the April 2015 murder of Aurélie Châtelain and planning of an Islamic terrorist attack against a church in Villejuif, France, by an Algerian national, Sid Ahmed Ghlam.[1] In November 2020, he was sentenced to life in prison by a Paris court.[2] This sentence was upheld on appeal in October 2021.[3]

Ghlam had made journeys to Syria in October 2014 and February 2015. There, on at least one occasion he had met Abdelhamid Abaaoud, one of the terrorists who perpetrated the November 2015 Paris attacks.[4]

The case

On 19 April 2015, Aurélie Châtelain, a dance instructor, was found shot dead in her burnt-out car in Villejuif, Val-de-Marne, outside Paris. Shortly after, Sid Ahmed Ghlam, an Algerian student, sought medical help in Paris for bullet wounds in one of his arms. His behaviour raised suspicions, leading French authorities to check his Renault Mégane car where they found a Kalashnikov rifle, a revolver and a bullet proof vest. In his apartment, they found three more Kalashnikovs and another weapon. He was detained at the hospital.[5]

Information found in Ghlam's home and on his telephone led the police to believe he was planning an immediate attack on a church, being instructed by a French-speaking man in Syria. Ghlam had, according to the police, been in Turkey in February the same year, and at the time expressed a wish to go to Syria. He had been warned by police when he returned from Turkey, but had not been considered a serious security risk by the authorities.[6][5]

Some days after the incident, Ghlam was charged with murder, attempted murder, association with criminals with a view to commit crimes against people and other crimes "connected to a terrorist organisation".[5] Le Monde reported that his arrest stopped him from following through on his next targets, which possibly were the two churches of Villejuif and/or the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.[7]

Ghlam's DNA was found on Châtelain and in the car where she died. The authorities have not identified a clear motive for the murder. Initially, they suggested Ghlam might have tried to steal her car. Another possible motive that was forward is that Ghlam might have mistaken her for an official spying on him. The shots were fired at her from outside the car. Ghlam pleaded innocence with regard to the death.[8][6]

Trial and conviction

The trial began on 5 October 2020. During the trial, Ghlam said that he had previously been on his way to being deradicalised and said that he now regretted that journey. The only names he gave to investigators were of people who were already dead. In November 2020, he was found guilty of the murder of Aurélie Châtelain and of preparing an attack on a church in Villejuif and was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for at least 22 years and a lifetime ban on entering French territory after release.[9][10][11] His lawyer said that they would appeal against the verdict.[10]

According to Le Monde, the trial shed light on the role played by Islamic State organizers and logisticians who aid attackers. Along with Ghlam, Rabah Boukaouma, considered by DGSI to be the chief logistician of the attack, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Farid Brahami, a third accomplice who had put Bokauoma in contact with the seller of the bulletproof vests, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.[9]

In October 2021, life imprisonment was confirmed against Sid Ahmed Ghlam, on appeal.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Sid Ahmed Ghlam, le parcours accompli d'un terroriste". Le Figaro (in French). 7 October 2020.
  2. Botelho, Greg (24 April 2015). "Faith turns Christians into terrorist targets". CNN. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
    - Breeden, Aurelien (23 April 2015). "Student Arrested on Suspicion of Planning Attack in France". The New York Times.
    - "Meurtre d'Aurélie Châtelain : Sid Ahmed Ghlam condamné à la réclusion à perpétuité". Le Monde (in French). 6 November 2020.
  3. "Terrorisme : perpétuité confirmée en appel pour Sid-Ahmed Ghlam, absent à l'audience". Le Figaro (in French). 28 October 2021.
  4. "Malgré « quelques évolutions », Sid Ahmed Ghlam nie toujours le meurtre d'Aurélie Chatelain". La Voix du Nord (in French). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. Kim Willsher (24 April 2015). "French student charged with murder and links to a terrorist organisation". The Guardian.
  6. Soren Seelow (3 August 2015). "Sid Ahmed Ghlam, entre les mailles du filet". Le Monde (in French).
  7. Madjid Zerrouky. "Attentat de Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray : l'EI cherche à détruire toute coexistence religieuse". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 27 July 2016. deux attentats avaient été déjoués en 2015 contre deux églises de Villejuif (Val-de-Marne) et la basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Paris), cibles de Sid-Ahmed Ghlam, arrêté le 19 avril 2015.
    "Attaque djihadiste à Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray : ce que l'on sait". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 27 July 2016. Sid Ahmed Ghlam, un étudiant algérien, est soupçonné d'avoir projeté un attentat contre l'église de Villejuif en avril 2015. L'exploitation de ses deux ordinateurs avait permis de savoir qu'il visait également un train et la basilique du Sacré-Cœur à Paris. L'homme avait été arrêté avant qu'il puisse mettre son projet à exécution.
  8. "Meurtre d'Aurélie Châtelain : Sid Ahmed Ghlam a participé à la reconstitution". LCI.TF1 (in French). 20 March 2016.
    - Leclerc, Jean-Marc (20 March 2016). "Meurtre d'Aurélie Châtelain : «Tout accuse Sid Ahmed Ghlam»". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  9. "Sid Ahmed Ghlam condamné à la réclusion à perpétuité pour l'attentat avorté de Villejuif". Le Monde (in French). 5 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020. Il était accusé d'avoir mis en liaison Rabah Boukaouma et le vendeur des gilets pare-balles. [He was accused of having put Rabah Boukaouma in contact with the seller of bulletproof vests.]
  10. "Man sentenced to life after failed French church bombing". AP NEWS. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  11. "Perpétuité pour un terroriste manqué". Le Matin (in French). 5 November 2020. ISSN 1018-3736. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. "Tentative d'attentat à Villejuif : la perpétuité confirmée en appel pour Sid Ahmed Ghlam". Le Monde (in French). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
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