Six years after a knife attack inside the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption basilica in Nice left three people dead, the city gathered for a solemn morning of remembrance on October 29, 2026. The quiet observance opened with a wreath-laying ceremony at 8:15 a.m. near the Colombe de la Paix by Tobiasse, where residents laid white roses, followed by the tolling of the knell at 8:45 a.m. and a religious service inside the basilica.
Remembering the Victims of the 2020 Attack
The October 29, 2020, attack unfolded swiftly inside the sanctuary. Brahim Aouissaoui, a Tunisian clandestine immigrant who was then 27 years old, entered the building armed with a kitchen knife. Within moments, he killed three people: 60-year-old Nadine Devillers, a parishioner; 55-year-old sacristan Vincent Loquès; and 44-year-old Simone Barreto Silva, who managed to flee to a nearby snack bar before dying of her injuries. A four-officer municipal police crew confronted the attacker, who advanced on them shouting « Allah Akbar » with a bloodstained knife, and neutralized him.
Reflecting on the enduring grief of the families, nicematin.com reported comments from legal representatives involved in the case. « My thoughts go first to the victims, whose lives were brutally snatched away, but also to their families, their loved ones, and all those whose existence has been turned upside down by this act of terror », stated Philippe Soussi, lawyer for Joffrey Devillers, the husband of Nadine Devillers, alongside a first responder and the French Association of Victims of Terrorism. « Despite the suffering inflicted, despite an unprecedented and ultimate violence, they have shown remarkable and overwhelming dignity. »
David Rebibou, representing relatives of Simone Barreto Silva, noted that the pain remains acute. « My clients are still deeply marked by the death of Simone, who was so dedicated and jovial. The pain has not eased, even six years later », he said, adding that she sought only to bring happiness to others.
Preparing for the December 2026 Appeal Trial
Even as the community paused to honor the victims, families face an impending legal battle. On February 26, 2025, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment with an incompressible security period—a rare designation known in France as real life imprisonment. nicematin.com reported that Brahim Aouissaoui will return to the dock before a specially composed Paris assize court from December 7 to 18, 2026, for his appeal.
« My clients are aware that an accused has the right to appeal, they were relieved by the conviction, they hoped to undertake another form of mourning, they will wait », attorney David Rebibou explained regarding the upcoming proceedings. Philippe Soussi added that the appeal comes as no surprise, noting expectations that the defendant may use the courtroom to defend his actions.
During the initial trial, the defendant admitted to the acts while presenting jihadist arguments without expressing remorse. Christophe Petit, counsel for Solange, one of Simone’s sisters, expressed concern over potential posturing during the upcoming hearings. « We are always afraid that he will turn this hearing into a political platform, which is incomprehensible and inaudible for the civil parties, even if they do not expect him to have regrets », he told nicematin.com.
Martin Méchin will continue to represent the defendant during the December appeal, supported by newly appointed defense counsel Romain Ruiz. The accused, currently held in the south of France, is scheduled for transfer to a prison facility near Paris ahead of the trial.
