Twenty-four alleged members of an Algerian extremist network went on trial yesterday in Paris on charges linked to a series of bomb attacks in France which left 12 dead and nearly 200 injured. Likely to last about a month, the trial will recreate events surrounding the wave of eight deadly attacks between July and October 1995, which has been blamed on Algeria's radical Armed Islamic Group (GIA).
Among the defendants, two have been identified as ringleaders, Mr Rachid Ramda, who will be tried in absentia, and Mr Boualem Bensaid. The other defendants include Mr Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, an alleged bomb-disposal expert, and members of the network from Lille and Lyons.