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His testimony led investigators on the trail of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed in a Raid attack in 2015, five days after the November 13 attack. Since then, the young woman has had to change her identity and live in hiding so as not to risk her life.
“I still have nightmares about it, just yesterday. It was the devil himself.” Sonia, who chose this first name when she changed her identity, now lives in hiding. His life was turned upside down by his testimony, which was crucial in the investigation of the attacks in Paris and Saint-Denis in November 2015. He testified, Wednesday, November 12, on France 2’s “8 p.m.” show.
Two days after the attacks that killed 130 people at the Stade de France, on a Paris terrace and at the Bataclan, the young woman met Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a jihadist considered the leader of a terrorist commando force. The authorities believed he was in Syria, but in reality he was in Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis), hiding in the bushes.
Sonia then decided to inform the police. “I don’t think about it, it’s natural, it’s mandatory, I can’t allow that”he explained for France 2. “It is brotherhood, human instinct” that motivates him, reassures Sonia.
“I’m not a hero, but a French citizen. I have no regrets. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t even hesitate.”
His testimony allowed the authorities to find traces of Abdelhamid Abaaoud in an apartment in Saint-Denis, where he was killed, accompanied by his cousin Hasna Aït Boulahcen and his accomplice, Chakib Akrouh, during the Raid attack on 18 November 2015. An operation that prevented the carrying out of other terrorist attacks planned by the jihadists, especially in the La Défense district. “Which human could do that?” asked Sonia.
Since then, the young woman has lived in “protected witness” status. He has changed his identity and lives under constant protection. “We have to change our identity, separate ourselves from our families…” said Sonia explaining a program “It’s not necessarily made for that (He)“, which he doesn’t have “not selected”. “I am afraid that some people, after hearing this, will say to themselves: ‘We do not denounce'”he explained, “But when you wake up in the morning and see life outside, there is nothing happier than that.” Abdelhamid Abaaoud “didn’t bring France to its knees”Sonia emphasized, “It was France who brought them to their knees”.
The filming conditions for this interview were very safe: Léa Salamé mentioned that she could not see the young woman’s face and that her voice was changed by artificial intelligence. The interview was conducted while Sonia and Léa Salamé were surrounded by police officers. Sonia, who assured that she was not under permanent police protection, explained that she accepted it “threat”without specifying the form it takes. But “This is the legacy of November 13 that we must carry with pride”he explained: “Even if we are sad, (…) we have to tell ourselves that this is for a good cause.”
The story is told in November 13, Sonia’s choice, a documentary fiction broadcast Thursday evenings on France 2 and available on france.tv. Four 30-minute episodes, directed by David André and Violette Lazard, look back at the events of November 2015, then the placement under protection and the difficulties associated with the young woman’s new life.
