Eight Suspects on Trial for Involvement in the Beheading of French Teacher Samuel Paty

paris - Eight suspects, seven men and one woman, are standing trial in relation to the death of French teacher Samuel Paty, each accused of varying levels of involvement. Read on to learn about their roles in the tragic incident.

Eight suspects are currently on trial at the courthouse in Paris until December 20, facing different charges. Two of them are charged with 'complicity in a terrorist murder,' a crime punishable by life imprisonment. The other six are facing charges of 'criminal terrorist conspiracy,' with a potential prison sentence of 30 years.

The two suspects charged with complicity in murder are 22-year-old Frenchman Naïm Boudaoud and 23-year-old Azim Epsirkhanov, a Chechen Russian. The two friends of Anzorov risk a life sentence for assisting the terrorist in acquiring weapons.

Boudaoud, described by the prosecutor as 'particularly vulnerable' and 'influencable,' had no visible signs of violent radicalization. He was known as 'helpful,' had just obtained his driver's license, and owned a car. The day before the attack, he drove his friend Anzorov to a cutlery store in Rouen to buy a knife 'that he wanted to give to his grandfather.'

On the day of the terror act, on October 16, 2020, Boudaoud accompanied his friend to a shop in Cergy (Val d'Oise) to purchase two airsoft guns and steel balls. Anzorov even jokingly offered him one, saying, 'It's a gift for before I die.' On the day of the attack, Boudaoud drove his friend to the Bois-d'Aulne school where Samuel Paty taught.

The knife bought by the perpetrator a day earlier was found near the decapitated body of the teacher. Boudaoud's lawyer, Hiba Rizkallah, emphasizes that her client 'led a completely different life' from Anzorov and that they were never 'real friends.' She stresses that 'he will protest his innocence during his trial, as he has always done.'

The other suspect charged with complicity in murder is Azim Epsirkhanov, who arrived in France in December 2010. According to the prosecutor, Epsirkhanov is complicit in the crime 'by actively helping and guiding his 'old' friend Anzorov in the search for and purchase of weapons.'

The attacker met Epsirkhanov at university in 2013. During the hearing, he admitted receiving 800 euros from Anzorov to quickly buy a firearm, without success.

The court will also try three individuals who were part of Snapchat groups around Abdoullakh Anzorov. They are Yusuf Cinar from Turkey, Russian Chechen Ismaïl Gamaev, and Louqmane Ingar from Réunion. The three 22-year-old men exchanged jihadist messages with Anzorov, according to the Public Prosecutor.

Accused Yusuf Cinar, a Turkish citizen who dropped out of school at 14 and primarily lived off drug trafficking and alcoholism, shared a Snapchat group named 'Zbrr' with Abdoullakh Anzorov, whom he considered 'a good friend' and even 'a brother.'

After the attack, this Snapchat group, which spread jihadist propaganda, posted Anzorov's message claiming responsibility for the attack and photos of Samuel Paty's body. The group was later used to post videos in tribute to the assailant. Cinar has been in prison since October. His detention has been marked by numerous incidents, including a suicide attempt in November 2020.

Russian Ismaïl Gamaev of Chechen origin entered France illegally. He had refugee status and a residence permit valid until August 2020. Currently under judicial supervision after two years of provisional detention, Gamaev, along with Abdoullakh Anzorov and Louqmane Ingar, 'actively participated' in a Snapchat group exchanging anonymous and encrypted jihadist messages.

According to the prosecutor, 'he encouraged Abdoullakh Anzorov' in his murder plans in the weeks leading up to the killing. He posted smiling emojis after the teacher's decapitated head was posted on his Snapchat group 'Medical Students.'

Accused Louqmane Ingar is charged with 'managing and actively participating' in the same Snapchat group as Ismaïl Gamaev. According to the Public Prosecutor, the 22-year-old intended to leave France to join a terrorist organization in Afghanistan or Syria. He spent a year in custody before being placed under judicial supervision on November 10, 2021.

Lastly, a woman is also on trial in this case. The 36-year-old Priscilla Mangel 'encouraged' Anzorov in his plans. Mangel converted to Islam at the age of 16 and married a man known as a member of a radical Islamic movement. She has been involved in various anti-terrorism procedures herself.

The prosecutor accuses her of 'discreetly' exchanging thoughts with Anzarov on the Twitter network (now X). Under a pseudonym, she reportedly informed Anzorov, who 'did not hide his ideology,' about Samuel Paty. She presented the teacher's showing of cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed to his students as 'an illustration of the war by republican institutions against Muslims.'

According to the prosecutor, such exchanges 'reinforced' the assailant in his plan. Mangel has been under judicial supervision since June 25, 2021.

The two men responsible for the intense online hate campaign against history teacher Samuel Paty, which ultimately led to his murder, are 52-year-old Brahim Chnina and 65-year-old Abdelhakim Sefrioui. The two men, who have been in pre-trial detention for four years, are accused of spreading lies on social media and inciting to 'punish' the teacher for showing cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Conspiracy to commit terrorism carries a 30-year prison sentence.

Chnina, a Moroccan national, is the father of the schoolgirl at the center of this tragedy. She told lies about the lesson in which her teacher showed some cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. According to the 13-year-old student, her teacher had asked all Muslim students to leave the class, but it turned out that the girl wasn't even present in the lesson.

Angered, Chnina published videos online providing detailed information about Paty's identity and the school where he taught. Leading up to the murder, he had nine phone contacts with the perpetrator. He has been in custody since October 21 but has not taken responsibility for the acts he is accused of.

French-Moroccan citizen Abdelhakim Sefrioui, considered an Islamic activist, is on trial alongside Chnina for participating in 'the preparation and dissemination of videos containing false or distorted information' intended to incite hatred against Samuel Paty.

According to his lawyers, there was no established contact between Sefrioui and the assailant. His counsel also argued that there is no evidence that Abdoullakh Anzarov had seen the video in which his client labeled France as 'Islamophobic' and described Samuel Paty as a 'criminal teacher.'

Sefrioui previously stated that he would never have posted his video if he had 'even one billionth chance' of imagining what would happen. 'We only wanted administrative sanctions against Samuel Paty,' argued the suspect.