A group of American citizens has filed a lawsuit against multinational corporations Lafarge S.A., Lafarge Cement Holding Limited, Lafarge Cement Syria S.A., Holcim Ltd, and Holcim (US) Inc. for allegedly financing terrorism
According to the lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs, including Helen Jane Wilson and Valerie Wilson Hudson, these companies violated the federal Anti-Terrorism Act by providing financial support to ISIS, which carried out deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels. The lawsuit claims that from August 2013 to October 2014, the defendants made substantial payments to ISIS in exchange for operating a cement plant in Syria. These payments allegedly allowed Lafarge Cement Syria S.A. to generate approximately $70.30 million in revenue. The plaintiffs argue that this financial support enabled ISIS to commit terrorist acts like the Paris Bataclan Theatre attack on November 13, 2015, and the Brussels Airport bombing on March 22, 2016.
The lawsuit outlines how Lafarge was acquired by Holcim Ltd on July 10, 2015. It claims that through corporate restructuring, Holcim became responsible for Lafarge's liabilities and obligations. As successors in interest to Lafarge, Holcim Defendants are accused of aiding and abetting ISIS's terrorist activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The plaintiffs include U.S. citizens who were directly affected by these attacks or lost family members as a result. Helen Jane Wilson was severely injured during the Paris Bataclan Attack, while Chaim Winternitz suffered injuries during the Brussels Airport Attack along with his daughter B.W. Estates of victims like Justin Shults and Stephanie Moore-Shults also join as plaintiffs seeking justice for their untimely deaths.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages under the Anti-Terrorism Act’s aiding-and-abetting provision, which aims to hold accountable those who provide material support to foreign organizations engaging in terrorism against Americans. They demand compensatory damages for physical injuries suffered during these attacks as well as mental anguish experienced due to the loss or injury of loved ones.
The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 1:25-cv-01975.