France, Dec. 2 -- Wednesday, the 52nd day of the trial of 20 men suspected of involvement in the November 2015 Paris massacres, was devoted to Belgian police evidence, relaid by videolink from the office of the Attorney General in Brussels. Four of the accused continued to boycott proceedings. Sofien Ayari returned to the prisoners' enclosure for the first time since last Thursday.

Ayari picked a good day to come back. Wednesday's evidence from Brussels was partly devoted to his departure for Syria and the few details which have been established about his activities in the war zone.

A Tunisian national, Ayari worked in the clothing trade. His family date his increased interest in Islam to 2013-2014, but deny that he was ever radicalised...