Survivors of the Islamic State group attack on Paris in 2015 have spoken out ahead of the long-awaited trial.

Bataclan hostage Stéphane Toutlouyan told AP: “I think we have a duty to stay positive and keep moving forward. We don’t want the terrorists to win.”

As the trial began, the defendants were called in alphabetical order.

Salah Abdeslam – thought to be the only surviving member of the group suspected of carrying out the 2015 Paris attacks – was first and he was asked to identify himself. Requested to state his profession, the 31-year-old said his “ambition is to become a fighter for Islamic State.”

Additional reporting by AP

As the trial began, the defendants were called in alphabetical order.

Salah Abdeslam – thought to be the only surviving member of the group suspected of carrying out the 2015 Paris attacks – was first and he was asked to identify himself. Requested to state his profession, the 31-year-old said his “ambition is to become a fighter for Islamic State.”

Additional reporting by AP

The trial into the 2015 Paris attacks has started.

According to Agence France Presse, Salah Abdeslam said in his opening remarks: “There is no god except for Allah.”

Salah Abdeslam has appeared in the dock for the trial, according to French TV station LCI.

While cameras are not allowed in the room, their reporter inside described him as having mid-length hair and a beard longer than his face mask.

According to Reuters, the 31-year-old arrived in the courtroom dressed all in black, including with a black face mask.

He is widely reported to have remained silent during the investigation and survivors and relatives of those killed said they did not expect to hear much from him.

A vast security operation swung into operation in Paris as the trial of those charged with carrying out the worst terrorist attack in the French capital’s history was set to begin.

Peter Allen in Paris reports:

Here is Olivier Morice, French lawyer of the relatives of the victims of the Paris attacks, seen speaking to the press as he arrived at the courtroom for the start of the trial:

The 2015 attacks in Paris killed 130 people and wounded hundreds of others.The attacks were carefully planned and simultaneous across the French capital.Here is a timeline of events:

Two apartments and a house in Belgium are rented under false identities to prepare and coordinate the attacks. Salah Abdeslam rents two cars in Belgium to drive to France.

9.16pm and 9.20pm: Two suicide bombers detonate themselves outside the national stadium just north of Paris after failing to enter it. A security guard and both bombers die.

9:24 p.m. to 9:36 p.m. Three shootings take place at different restaurants in the 10th and 11th arrondissement of Paris. Thirty-nine people die.

9:41 p.m: A suicide bomber detonates his vest by another restaurant, kills no one but wounds two.

9:47 p.m: Three gunmen storm the Bataclan concert hall, killing 90.

9:53 p.m: A suicide bomber detonates his vest near the national stadium. He is the only one killed.

12:12 a.m: Police special forces enter the Bataclan, two terrorists blow themselves up, one is killed by police.

Early morning: Salah Abdeslam, who had dropped the stadium bombers off and whose brother was one of the restaurant attackers, flees to Belgium.

France’s interior minister has said nearly 1,000 police have been deployed in Paris for the trial.

“The terror threat in France is high, especially in moments like the trial of attacks,” Gerald Darmanin tweeted.

The 14 defendants to stand trial in court have arrived, French media have reported.