A vast security operation swung into operation in Paris today as an intended ISIS suicide bomber who survived the most murderous terrorist attack in the city's history prepared to appear in court.
Salah Abdelsam, 31, has admitted discarding a belt full of explosives rather than blowing himself up on November 13, 2015.
It was the Friday night when nine other members of an ISIS cell, including his brother Brahim Abdeslam, killed 130 people, and wounded more than 400 more.
Abdeslam now faces multiple life sentences if found guilty of assisting in multiple murders during a criminal process due to last at least nine months and dubbed 'The Trial of the Century' in France.
Salah Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national, has admitted discarding a belt full of explosives rather than blowing himself up on November 13, 2015
A vast security operation swung into operation in Paris today as the trial of 20 men accused of masterminding the November 2015 attacks opened
This morning Abdelsam was removed from his cell at Fleury-Mérogis prison, in the southern Paris suburbs, where he is under 24-hour video surveillance, and transported to the court house (pictured, a police convoy believed to be carrying the defendant)
On Wednesday morning he was removed from his cell at Fleury-Mérogis prison, in the southern Paris suburbs, where he is under 24-hour video surveillance.
Abdeslam was then driven in an armed convoy to a specially built Assizes in central Paris, where specialist anti-terrorist judges will adjudicate.
'The prisoner was removed from prison shortly after 9am so as to be driven into central Paris,' said a police spokesman.
'There are hundreds of military and police involved in the security operation, both on the journey, and around the court.'
Special Forces officers brandishing machine guns surrounded the prison before motor-cycle outriders led the convoy including a white prison services van containing prisoner number 444806.
During the 40-minute drive to court, Abdeslam was accompanied by his defence barrister Olivia Ronen, who said ensuring a fair trial was her priority.
'There's no compromise possible in defence,' said Ms Ronen. 'Whatever the case, we give one hundred per cent. This entails not being afraid of displeasing or
