Carlos the Jackal appeals life sentence in French bombings that killed 11 in early 1980s

PARIS – Carlos the Jackal, the flamboyant terrorist and self-proclaimed revolutionary who was once one of the Cold War’s most wanted men, is appealing his life sentence for orchestrating bombings in France two decades ago.

Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is serving two life sentences in France for a triple murder in 1975 and for bombings in France in 1982 and 1983 that killed 11 people and injured more than 140. He’s been jailed since 1994 after French agents seized him in Sudan.

Monday’s hearing began with Ramirez demanding a new lawyer.

His alleged ties to attacks by far-left and Palestinian terror groups made him feared among governments in Western Europe and the Middle East, but also brought him admirers including the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.