Above: Cherif Chekatt
-Vlad Tepes
In December 2018, Cherif Chekatt, while yelling, "Allahu akhbar!" opened fire at the Strasbourg Christmas Market, killing 5 and wounding 11. Two days later, he was shot and killed by police in Strasbourg. Three other persons were convicted and sentenced to prison as accomplices. Now the man who helped Chekatt procure his weapon hours before the attack has had his 30-year sentence upheld by an appeals court. He must serve at least 20 years of that sentence.
The below article in Le Figaro is translated by Fousesquawk.
Christmas market attack in Strasbourg: 30 years imprisonment for Audrey Mondjehi
By Le Figaro
One hour ago
Caption: This sketch, drawn on February 29, 2024, shows the defendants, Audrey Mondjehi (on the right), Christian H., Stephane B., and Frederic B., during their trial for the Christmas market attack in Strasbourg in 2018, at the Paris Tribunal.
The Special Criminal Appeals Court of Paris has confirmed the first instance sentence, including the mandatory minimum period of 20 years, during which the 44-year-old repeat offender will not be eligible for any parole or reduction of sentence.
Audrey Mondjehi, a 44-year-old repeat offender, was sentenced on appeal Friday to 30 years in prison for having assisted the jihadist, Cherif Chekatt, in obtaining the pistol used to kill 5 persons at the Strasbourg Christmas Market in 2018. The Special Criminal Appeals Court of Paris has upheld the first-instance verdict, including the mandatory minimum period of 20 years, during which Audrey Mondjehi will not be eligible for any parole or reduction of sentence. A permanent ban from French territory was also pronounced against the Côte d'Ivoire national.
Chekatt was killed after a 2-day manhunt. Audrey Mondjehi denied being aware of Chekatt's radicalization, although he was close to him after their meeting while in detention in 2007, when he helped him procure a weapon. On the evening of December 11, 2018, after having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (ISIS), Cherif Chekatt, 29, an S-classified (security watchlist) criminal, stormed into the Strasbourg Christmas Market, which attracts around 3 million tourists from around the world each year.
"Allahu Akhbar!"
Opening fire on passersby while shouting, "Allahu Akhbar!" (God is the greatest), he killed 5 persons and wounded 11 others on the crowded streets of the Alsace capital. He was killed by law enforcement 2 days later in the Strasbourg district of Neudorf, where he had been spotted, and which he knew well, having grown up there.
In the trial of first instance (initial trial), two other associates, convicted of criminal association but with no terrorist elements established, were sentenced to 4 and 5 years in prison, respectively, with 1-1/2 years suspended. A third man was acquitted.
Albert B., the octogenarian who had sold the weapon to Mondjehi and Chekatt a few hours before the attack, will never be tried. At the end of 2025, a medical expert opinion concluded that his state of health was permanently "incompatible" with any appearance in court. He had previously been unable to appear at the initial trial.
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