Why did it take 40 years to bring this to trial? Did they just recent find out his connection to the attack?
No, they've known about it. My understanding from other articles charges were originally dismissed for lack of evidence. Don't think that was in a trial or any proceeding he was present at. He was caught by French special forces in 1994 and subsequently convicted of other attacks. Why recharging this after all these years, and while he's serving a life sentence, not entirely clear. Perhaps simply France making a statement about terrorism.