On April 21, a Paris court found Lebanese-Canadian professor Hassan Diab guilty in absentia of terrorism on charges of bombing a Paris synagogue in 1980, which killed four people and injured 46, reports ABC..

Diab sentenced to life in prison, court issues warrant for his arrest. Man lives and teaches in Ottawa, Canada and denies his guilt.

Diab's lawyers say he was in Lebanon at the time of the attack preparing for university exams and is "

French authorities accuse Diab of planting a motorcycle bomb outside a synagogue on rue Copernicus in Paris, where 320 worshipers gathered on the evening of October 3, 1980 to celebrate a Jewish holiday.. Among them were children celebrating a bar mitzvah.

Investigators first suspected far-right extremists before turning their attention to Palestinian militants. As a result, French investigators attributed the attack to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.. But no one ever took responsibility.

Friday's verdict came as a surprise to many, even in court.. Defense witnesses included a magistrate who investigated the case and testified that there was not enough evidence to convict Diab.. His supporters urged Canada not to arrest or extradite Diab, who has already faced years of legal battles over the case..

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In 2014, Canada authorized his extradition to France as part of an investigation, but after three years of pre-trial detention, anti-terrorism judges ordered his release due to insufficient evidence.. The appeals court then ruled that he should stand trial on terrorism charges.. Diab remained in Canada throughout the trial, which began in April..

For those affected by the attack, the trial was a welcome opportunity to speak publicly about what had happened.. Survivors talk about years of physical and mental trauma. Some said the sound of motorcycles haunted them after that night.. Families of the victims mourned their lost children, brothers and sisters.

The head of France's leading Jewish group, CRIF, welcomed the conviction and urged Canada to arrest Diab.. Victims' lawyers say long-awaited trial will serve as a deterrent to future terrorist attacks and anti-Semitic sentiment.

Prosecutors claimed Diab lied to himself for 40 years and was caught up in his denial and escape from reality..

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Diab's lawyer, William Bourdon, pushed for an acquittal, saying it would be "

Amnesty International was among those who called on the court to drop what they call a flawed and unfounded case, arguing that it "

Some lawyers for the 18 people and six groups involved in the case admitted that it was difficult to pursue the case after so many years, especially without evidence such as DNA or mobile phone data, which are used in current investigations..

Meanwhile, tensions continue with a series of armed acts of aggression between Israel and Palestine. Recently, China announced its readiness to mediate in peace talks between the parties..