More than a confession, it was a claim. Brahim Aouissaoui admitted, for the first time since the opening of his trial and the judicial investigation, to being the perpetrator of three murders and several attempted murders as part of a terrorist enterprise. But his confession, given on Monday, February 24, at the start of his questioning by a judge in the specially composed criminal court, took on the vindictive allure of a genuine claim of principle.

Before beginning the questioning, eagerly awaited by the plaintiffs who never received an explanation for his actions, let alone any expressions of regret or remorse, the judge reminded Aouissaoui of the charges for which he had been referred to a court. He then asked him if he recognized the facts.

The 25-year-old then made an obviously prepared statement: "Yes, I recognize the facts, but I have things to say here. Every day, Muslims die. Every day you kill Muslims. These Muslims are people too. You don't care, you have no empathy for them. All those who live in Muslim countries also have loved ones, families, children. They're human beings too, aren't they?"

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