Notorious mercenary for hire Carlos the Jackal is on trial over a series of fatal bomb blasts in France in the 1980s.
By REUTERSCarlos the Jackal 311 R(photo credit: Reuters)
Security is tight as suspected bomber Carlos the Jackal faces his latest trial in Paris.A Venezuelan revolutionary born Illich Ramirez Sanchez, he is accused of detonating four bombs in France almost 30 years ago.The infamous guerrilla for hire has been incarcerated here for two decades after being sentenced to life in prison for his role in other crimes.Victims of the four bombings that killed 11 people and wounded nearly 200 others say they hope justice will finally be served."We've been waiting for 30 years for this. I was a victim of the Rue Marbeuf bomb on April 22, 1989 and for us, all the victims, it's an important day. We hope that he'll speak and explain things and that he'll have a little gesture of sympathy to the victims," said Philippe Rouault.Shown gray and bearded in a court sketch, Ramirez will be tried by a three-judge terrorism panel.If found guilty, he could serve another life sentence of at least 22 years.
His wife, also his lawyer, denied the charges on his behalf, adding Ramirez is tired and ill from his long imprisonment.Ramirez became one of the world's most wanted guerrillas after holding several OPEC oil ministers hostage in the name of Palestine in 1975.He was captured by French agents in 1994.
