Bataclan terror suspect Abdeslam refuses to attend Brussels trial

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Paris terror attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam refuses to return to his trial in Belgium this week over a shootout with police in Brussels that led to his capture, the court says.

The fresh show of defiance comes after Abdeslam berated judges for being anti-Muslim, refused to stand, and said that he put his “trust in Allah” on the first day of the trial on Monday.

It appears to dash any lingering hopes that Abdeslam might answer questions about the March 15, 2016 gun battle or about his suspected ties to the cell linked to both the 2015 Paris and 2016 Brussels jihadist attacks.

“The court has received notice from the defendant to tell us that he will not take part in his trial on Thursday. It’s obviously his right not to appear,” Luc Hennart, the court’s administrative head, tells AFP.

— AFP

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