Canadian officials on Shabbos 22 Marcheshvan turned a terror suspect over to French authorities 30 years following the attack against a French shul. The suspect, 60-year-old Professor Hassan Diab is suspected of having been involved in that attack. The suspect is a lecturer in sociology at Ottawa University. The extradition was made possible at the Canadian Supreme Court last week refused to hear his final plea to block the extradition.

The attack, which was carried out on September 3, 1980 on Simchas Torah night led to the deaths of four people. The attack targeted a Reform shul on Kupernik Street in France. The suspect’s name appeared on a list received from German intelligence sources, leading to his arrest in 2008 by Canadian officials. He allegedly masterminded the attack in connection with his affiliations with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The suspect was brought before a French court on Shabbos not too long after his extradition. He explained he has been fighting the extradition since 2008 because he does not believe he can receive a fair trial in France.

Three French citizens were murdered in the attack along with Aliza Shagrir HY”D, the wife of Israeli performer Micha Shagrir. Forty persons were injured. The bomb was hidden in saddlebags on a motorcycle outside the shul, containing tens of pounds of explosives and screws.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)