This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34853657

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Paris attacks: Police in deadly swoop on apartment in northern suburb Paris attacks: Police in deadly swoop on apartment in northern suburb
(about 1 hour later)
Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard in Paris as armed police searching for suspects from Friday's attacks raided a flat in the suburb of Saint-Denis. Two people were killed as police carried out a seven-hour raid on a flat suspected of housing the alleged mastermind of Friday's attacks.
Two people were killed in the raid, including a female suspect who blew herself up with a suicide belt. Seven people have been arrested. A woman blew herself up with a suicide belt and another suspect was killed by gunfire. Seven arrests were made.
The French government confirmed the seven-hour raid has now ended. But the fate of chief suspect Abdelhamid Abaaoud was not yet clear.
The focus of the raid was the alleged mastermind of Friday's attacks that killed 129 people. He was initially thought to have directed the attacks from Syria, but prosecutor Francois Molins said intelligence indicated he was in Paris.
Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old Belgian of Moroccan origin, was originally suspected of organising Friday's attacks from Syria. The French government said on Wednesday it had finally identified all the 129 victims of last Friday's attack.
Follow the latest live eventsFollow the latest live events
The operation began at 04:20 local time (03.20 GMT) in Saint-Denis, the same district as the Stade de France where suicide attackers detonated bombs on Friday. The operation began at 04:20 local time (03.20 GMT) in Saint-Denis, the same district as the Stade de France.
French Prosecutor Francois Molins said the operation was a result of intelligence suggesting Abaaoud was in the flat. Speaking from the scene after the operation had ended, Mr Molins said it was ordered after phone taps and surveillance operations suggested Abaaoud, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, could be there.
He said a young woman - who France's BFMTV said was a relative of Abaaoud - detonated her explosives belt soon after the raid began. The prosecutor said a young woman - who France's BFMTV said was a relative of Abaaoud - detonated her explosives belt soon after the raid began.
Another suspect was killed by grenades and police bullets, Mr Molins said.Another suspect was killed by grenades and police bullets, Mr Molins said.
Three men were arrested in the apartment, along with four others - including the man who provided the lodging. Three men were arrested in the apartment. Two others were found hiding in rubble and a further two - including the man who provided the lodging - were also detained, he said.
He said they were working on identifying the suspects. "It is impossible to tell you who was arrested. We are in the process of verifying that. Everything will be done to determine who is who," he said.
Multicultural Saint-Denis: by the BBC's Cagil KasapogluMulticultural Saint-Denis: by the BBC's Cagil Kasapoglu
Saint-Denis is a multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic suburb or banlieue. There are Africans, Algerians, Indians, Chinese, Turkish and many more from different backgrounds. Saint-Denis is a multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic suburb or banlieue. There are Africans, Indians, Chinese, Turkish and many more from different backgrounds.
The majority of the population has "sans-papiers" status - meaning they do not yet have a legal status and an ID which would allow them to find a job. Many have "sans-papiers" status - meaning they do not yet have a legal status and an ID which would allow them to find a job.
During my visit to Saint-Denis on Tuesday, I heard quite a lot of "us vs. them" when people talked about the "Parisiens" and themselves in the banlieues.During my visit to Saint-Denis on Tuesday, I heard quite a lot of "us vs. them" when people talked about the "Parisiens" and themselves in the banlieues.
Saint Denis youths unmoved by attacks
As the operation got under way, roads were blocked off around Rue de la Republique in Saint-Denis, by truckloads of soldiers and armed police.As the operation got under way, roads were blocked off around Rue de la Republique in Saint-Denis, by truckloads of soldiers and armed police.
Local residents, who were urged to stay indoors, spoke of hearing continuous gunshots and large explosions.Local residents, who were urged to stay indoors, spoke of hearing continuous gunshots and large explosions.
Amine Guizani told the Associated Press he heard the sounds of grenades and automatic gunfire.Amine Guizani told the Associated Press he heard the sounds of grenades and automatic gunfire.
"They were shooting for an hour, non-stop. There were grenades. It was going, stopping, Kalashnikovs, starting again," he said."They were shooting for an hour, non-stop. There were grenades. It was going, stopping, Kalashnikovs, starting again," he said.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve praised the security forces for operating "under fire for a number of hours in conditions that we have never seen before today".
More on the Paris attacksMore on the Paris attacks
Special report: In-depth coverage of the attacks and their aftermathSpecial report: In-depth coverage of the attacks and their aftermath
The near simultaneous attacks on bars and restaurants, a concert hall and the Stade du France last Friday left more than 400 people wounded, with 221 still in hospital, 57 of them in intensive care.The near simultaneous attacks on bars and restaurants, a concert hall and the Stade du France last Friday left more than 400 people wounded, with 221 still in hospital, 57 of them in intensive care.
All 129 people who died have now been identified, the French government confirmed on Wednesday. The so-called Islamic State militant group said it carried out the attacks in response to France's air campaign against its leadership in Syria, and pledged further bloodshed.
European countries are on high alert. On Tuesday evening, a football friendly between Germany and the Netherlands was cancelled shortly before kick-off and the stadium in Hannover evacuated after "concrete" information about a bomb threat, according to the city's police chief. European countries are on high alert. On Tuesday evening, a football friendly between Germany and the Netherlands was cancelled shortly before kick-off and two Air France planes heading to Paris from the US were diverted because of security threats.
Part of Hannover railway station was also closed while a suspicious object was investigated. French President Francois Hollande said on Wednesday that Islamic State threatens the whole world and he will be seeking a "large coalition" to work together to defeat the the militant group.
Meanwhile, two Air France planes heading to Paris from the US were diverted because of security threats. One was sent to Halifax in Canada, the other to Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah. Both planes landed safely and the passengers were unharmed.
What is Islamic State?What is Islamic State?
IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
What does it want?What does it want?
IS demands allegiance from all Muslims, rejects national borders and seeks to expand its territory. It follows its own extreme version of Sunni Islam and regards non-believers as deserving of death.IS demands allegiance from all Muslims, rejects national borders and seeks to expand its territory. It follows its own extreme version of Sunni Islam and regards non-believers as deserving of death.
How strong is IS?How strong is IS?
IS projects a powerful image, partly through propaganda and sheer brutality, and is the world's richest insurgent group. It has about 30,000 fighters but is facing daily bombing by a US-led multi-national coalition, which has vowed to destroy it.IS projects a powerful image, partly through propaganda and sheer brutality, and is the world's richest insurgent group. It has about 30,000 fighters but is facing daily bombing by a US-led multi-national coalition, which has vowed to destroy it.
What is Islamic State?What is Islamic State?
'No timetable' for Syria strikes vote'No timetable' for Syria strikes vote
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has been happening? Do you have any information you can share? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in the area? Have you been affected by what has been happening? Do you have any information you can share? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below