Significant Developments in the Trèbes and Carcassonne Attacks Case
The special assizes court in Paris commenced proceedings on September 14, 2026, regarding the appeal of three defendants involved in the tragic attacks that occurred on March 23, 2018, in Trèbes and Carcassonne. Among those expected to stand trial was Baghdad Haddaoui, a Moroccan national, who was notably absent from the hearing due to his recent expulsion from French territory. Haddaoui had appealed against his previous conviction, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. However, his residence permit was revoked in late May 2024, leading to his removal from France on October 7, 2024.
Upon opening the session, the court noted Haddaoui's absence and the public prosecutor's statement indicating that his whereabouts in Morocco remain unknown. The court subsequently decided to separate Haddaoui's case from the others, allowing for a future trial date to be set, as reported by ladepeche.fr.
Background on the Defendants
In this appeal trial, the other defendants include Marine Péquignot, the girlfriend of the terrorist Radouane Lakdim, and Samir Manaa, who accompanied Lakdim to purchase a hunting knife. During the initial trial, Haddaoui, a childhood friend of Lakdim, exhibited signs of psychological fragility and had previously failed to appear in court in 2024, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. Authorities eventually apprehended him at his home in Saint-Étienne before bringing him to the special assizes court in Paris.
The appeal trial is set to span four weeks, concluding on October 9, 2026. In total, seven suspects had been tried in the initial proceedings, which culminated with the death of Radouane Lakdim, who was shot by elite police forces, GIGN, during the attack.
