Tuesday 15th October, 2019
Oct. 15 (UPI) – A French court has sentenced a
group of five female jihadists to prison for a failed plot to bomb the famous
Notre Dame Cathedral three years ago.
Prosecutors said the women had fallen under
the influence of French Islamic State supporter Rachid Kassim and recruited
others for various terror plots.
Monday, Ines Madani was sentenced to 30 years
and Ornella Gilligmann 25 years for plotting to set off a car filled with gas
cylinders in front of the cathedral in 2016. Sarah Hervouet and Amel Sakaou,
who were part of the same jihadist cell, were sentenced to 20 years — and
Samia Chalel, who prosecutors said shielded Madani from authorities, was given
five years.
Madani and Gilligmann, the main suspects in
the all-female cell, expressed remorse in French court at their sentencing.
“I had the worst behaviour,” Madani
said.
France has been targeted for multiple
terrorist attacks in recent years. The cell sentenced Monday is believed to be
the first French prosecution to involve all women terror suspects.
The Notre Dame Cathedral was severely damaged
in April by a major fire that began during renovations on the historic
building.
GNA
