The World - News from May 17, 1989

Twenty alleged French urban guerrillas refused to recognize the court’s authority as their mass trial on charges of murder, armed robbery and bombing opened in the southeastern city of Lyon. Police allege that the defendants are members of the Lyon cell of the ultra-leftist guerrilla group Direct Action. Andre Olivier, a high-school teacher alleged to be the group’s ideologist, and Max Frerot, said to be its explosives expert, refused to answer when the judge asked their names. The case against the 20 includes charges arising from 30 armed robberies, three bombings and three murders.