On September 25, 2020, Zaheer Mahmood conducted a violent attack using a cleaver on two individuals in front of the former offices of Charlie Hebdo, located on rue Nicolas Appert in Paris' 11th arrondissement.

The incident left two young people severely injured: 'Paul', who suffered five strikes, resulting in significant injuries including a fractured skull and extensive recovery time, and 'Hélène', who was wounded four times.

Mahmood, a 29-year-old Pakistani national, had reportedly come to France in 2018. Before the attack, he was under the false assumption that Charlie Hebdo still operated from the site of the previous terrorist attack in 2015 against the satirical magazine that resulted in 12 deaths.

He declared his intent to attack due to perceived blasphemy, although he had never seen the controversial cartoons.

The prosecution has called for a 30-year prison sentence for Mahmood, with a two-thirds minimum period to be served before eligibility for parole, and a permanent ban from French territory.

Additionally, five other individuals, all between ages 21 and 25 and also of Pakistani nationality, are facing charges for their alleged roles in supporting and encouraging Mahmood.

They face sentences ranging from 3 to 13 years on charges primarily concerning terrorist conspiracy.

The ongoing trial has shed light on the chilling impact of the attack on the victims who survived the assault.

Both 'Paul' and 'Hélène' continue to deal with lifelong physical and psychological trauma.

Legal representatives and victims' families have expressed expectations that the trial will result in sentences commensurate with the severity of the harm inflicted.

Sentencing for Mahmood and the associated defendants is anticipated soon, providing a resolution to a high-profile case that underscores continuing concerns about domestic terrorism in France.