In Belgium, a trial began today over the devastating terrorist attacks in Paris more than six years ago.
14 people are accused of aiding and abetting the attacks. The trial is being held at former NATO headquarters amid strong security measures.
The trial in Brussels will be held in parallel with the trial in Paris, which began last autumn. It accuses 20 people of involvement in the attacks.
Judgments on both trials are expected during the summer.
The same cell struck in Paris and Brussels
On 13 November 2015, attackers from the Isis terrorist organization struck the Bataclan Concert Hall, the Stade de France and restaurants in Paris. 130 people were killed and hundreds injured.
According to Belgian prosecutors, some of the attacks were planned in Belgium.
A few months later, in March 2016, members of the same terrorist cell made attacks on Brussels airport and metro station. More than 30 people died in those attacks.
In the lawsuit that has now begun, 13 men and one woman are suspected of housing, transporting and financially supporting members of a terrorist cell.
The suspects assisted Salah Abdeslam on his escape
According to prosecutors, some of the suspects, among other things, hid Salah Abdeslamiathe only survivor of the Paris strikers.
Abdeslam was arrested after four months of escape in March 2016 in the Molenbeek district of Brussels.
The French-Moroccan Abdeslam himself is on the dock in Paris. This is the largest criminal trial in French history.
The trial in Brussels is expected to last until the end of May and the trial in Paris until the end of June.