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At least two dead in major operation targeting suspected Paris attacks mastermind At least two dead in operation targeting suspected Paris attacks mastermind
(about 1 hour later)
At least two people have been killed in a shootout during a major police operation targeting the alleged mastermind of Friday’s terror attacks in Paris, police and judicial sources have told French media.At least two people have been killed in a shootout during a major police operation targeting the alleged mastermind of Friday’s terror attacks in Paris, police and judicial sources have told French media.
One of the fugitives wanted in connection with Friday’s deadly series of suicide bombings and shootings was shot dead by a police sniper, while the second, a woman, reportedly blew herself up by detonating an explosive belt. One of the fugitives wanted in connection with the series of suicide bombings and shootings was shot dead by a police sniper, while the second, a woman, reportedly blew herself up by detonating an explosive belt.
Related: Paris attacks: police say two dead in St-Denis raid targeting 'mastermind' – liveRelated: Paris attacks: police say two dead in St-Denis raid targeting 'mastermind' – live
There were unconfirmed reports that there may still be a third person inside the apartment building in St-Denis, a town just north of Paris, where police launched the operation at about 4.30am. None of the fugitives’ identities have been confirmed. There were unconfirmed reports that there may be a third person inside the apartment building in St-Denis, a town just north of Paris, where police launched the operation at about 4.30am. None of the fugitives’ identities have been confirmed.
Police said the operation was targeting Abdel-Hamid Aba Oud, the suspected mastermind of Friday’s attacks, which killed 129 people. Aba Oud, 27, a well-known extremist sentenced in his absence to 20 years in jail in his native Belgium, was believed to have been in Syria. Police said the operation was targeting Abdel-Hamid Aba Oud, the suspected mastermind of last week’s attacks, which killed 129 people. Aba Oud, 27, a well-known extremist sentenced in his absence to 20 years in jail in his native Belgium, was believed to have been in Syria. It is not known whether Aba Oud was in the apartment.
Also holed up in the apartment at an apartment block on the rue Gabriel Péri, near key shopping areas and residential streets, were believed to be Salah Abdeslam, whose brother, Brahim, blew himself up in the Paris attacks, and an unidentified “ninth attacker” sought since Tuesday night. There were also unconfirmed reports that Salah Abdeslam – whose brother, Brahim, blew himself up in the Paris attacks – and an unidentified “ninth attacker” sought since Tuesday night were holed up in the apartment at a block on the rue de Corbillon..
Five arrests were also reported in the operation, as well as slight injuries to three people in the Swat and anti-terrorist teams taking part in the raid. Police made five arrests in the operation – three men detained in the apartment and two, a man and a woman, outside. Three officers were slightly injured.
Video reportedly posted from the scene early on Wednesday morning showed men, with their faces covered, carrying automatic weapons and walking down otherwise deserted streets, lit by streetlights.Video reportedly posted from the scene early on Wednesday morning showed men, with their faces covered, carrying automatic weapons and walking down otherwise deserted streets, lit by streetlights.
Didier Paillard, the mayor of St-Denis, close to the Stade de France stadium which was the target of one of Friday night’s attacks, said at about 6am he could still hear exchanges of fire. “It has not stopped since 4:30,” he said. Didier Paillard, the mayor of St-Denis, close to the Stade de France stadium which was the target of one of Friday night’s attacks, said at about 6am he could still hear exchanges of fire. “It has not stopped since 4.30,” he said.
Fatima Bourahli, 26, was standing in the street with a coat on over her pyjamas, looking at the police line, as soldiers in camouflage crouched with automatic weapons nearby.
“My daughter is six and she’s scared and confused,” she said. “The schools here are shut today, children are staying home. People are really scared and pretty tense. The government says we’re at war.”
Djamila Khaldi, a cleaner, 54, lives near the famous Saint-Denis Basilica, not far from the street targeted in the raid at the heart of the town’s historic centre.
“I was up before 4am because I had to drive my daughter to the airport,” she said. “I heard the shots and I just thought, there must be some kind of stand-off, terrorists must be hiding here.
“What can you say? Terrorism has come to Saint-Denis, the mood has changed and it will stay that way. People are distrustful, looking at each other. Saint-Denis will be labelled for this now. It’s a real shame.”
The existence of a so-called “ninth attacker” was unknown to investigators until CCTV was found on Tuesday showing three men in a car – not two as previously believed – opening fire with assault rifles on patrons at Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon bars in the 10th arrondissement.The existence of a so-called “ninth attacker” was unknown to investigators until CCTV was found on Tuesday showing three men in a car – not two as previously believed – opening fire with assault rifles on patrons at Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon bars in the 10th arrondissement.
Wednesday’s operation came after a police source said a mobile phone, found in a dustbin near the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people died, was found with a map of the music venue targeted in one of the attacks and a text message saying “let’s go”.Wednesday’s operation came after a police source said a mobile phone, found in a dustbin near the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people died, was found with a map of the music venue targeted in one of the attacks and a text message saying “let’s go”.
In other developments, Europe and America are on critical alert for further terror attacks after two Air France planes were diverted mid-flight because of security threats, “concrete evidence” emerged of a planned attack on German soil, and police revealed a possible “ninth attacker” was involved in the Paris atrocities and still on the run. In other developments, Europe and the US are on critical alert for further terror attacks after two Air France planes were diverted mid-flight because of security threats and “concrete evidence” emerged of a planned attack on German soil.
Five days on from the Paris attacks, two Air France flights to Paris from the US were diverted to domestic airfields mid-flight after security threats.
Air France flight AF55 flying to Charles de Gaulle airport from Washington DC was diverted to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, due to an anonymous security threat.Air France flight AF55 flying to Charles de Gaulle airport from Washington DC was diverted to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, due to an anonymous security threat.
Minutes later, flight AF65 from Los Angeles to the same airport was diverted to Salt Lake City reportedly because of a bomb threat, made by phone by somebody on the ground. Minutes later, flight AF65 from Los Angeles to the same airport in Paris was diverted to Salt Lake City reportedly because of a bomb threat, made by phone by somebody on the ground.
Air France confirmed both planes were grounded after they were the “subjects of anonymous threats received after their respective take-offs”. The airline and the FBI are investigating both incidents.Air France confirmed both planes were grounded after they were the “subjects of anonymous threats received after their respective take-offs”. The airline and the FBI are investigating both incidents.
In Hanover, Germany, a football friendly between the national side and the Netherlands in Hanover was abruptly cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off on Tuesday night after “concrete evidence” of a bomb plot emerged. In Hanover, Germany, a football friendly between the national side and the Netherlands was abruptly cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off on Tuesday night after “concrete evidence” of a bomb plot emerged.
“It was an extremely tough decision to cancel the match, which was made after many pieces of information indicated a concrete threat,” the German foreign minister, Thomas De Maizière, said. “It was an extremely tough decision to cancel the match, which was made after many pieces of information indicated a concrete threat,” the German foreign minister, Thomas de Maizière, said.
Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, was due to attend the match but had not reached the stadium. She was flown back to Berlin when the terror threat was announced.Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, was due to attend the match but had not reached the stadium. She was flown back to Berlin when the terror threat was announced.
Earlier, De Maizière told a media conference the security situation in Germany was critical and the chances of an attack on German soil “very high”.Earlier, De Maizière told a media conference the security situation in Germany was critical and the chances of an attack on German soil “very high”.
French intelligence officials have said they believe Abu Oud was the architect of the attacks. Like the Abdeslam brothers, Abu Oud has lived in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, long associated with Islamic extremism.French intelligence officials have said they believe Abu Oud was the architect of the attacks. Like the Abdeslam brothers, Abu Oud has lived in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, long associated with Islamic extremism.
Officials cited Isis chatter that Abu Oud had advised foreign jihadis that a concert would be an ideal target for inflicting maximum casualties, as well as electronic communications between the suspected ringleader and Brahim Abdeslam.Officials cited Isis chatter that Abu Oud had advised foreign jihadis that a concert would be an ideal target for inflicting maximum casualties, as well as electronic communications between the suspected ringleader and Brahim Abdeslam.
Security officials have said the attacks were devised and planned in Syria and executed by a sleeper cell in Belgium, with the aid of accomplices in France. French authorities on Tuesday identified the voice on an Isis video released after the attacks as that of Fabien Clain, a known French extremist in Syria since 2014.Security officials have said the attacks were devised and planned in Syria and executed by a sleeper cell in Belgium, with the aid of accomplices in France. French authorities on Tuesday identified the voice on an Isis video released after the attacks as that of Fabien Clain, a known French extremist in Syria since 2014.
Two suspects detained in Brussels, Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 21, also come from Molenbeek. After admitting driving to France to pick up Salah Abdeslam early on Saturday, hours after the attacks, they are being held on charges of terrorist murder and conspiracy.Two suspects detained in Brussels, Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 21, also come from Molenbeek. After admitting driving to France to pick up Salah Abdeslam early on Saturday, hours after the attacks, they are being held on charges of terrorist murder and conspiracy.
In unconfirmed reports, Belgian media claimed the pair were being investigated as possible suppliers of the suicide bombs used in the attacks, since ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser that can be used to make explosives, was recovered from their homes. In unconfirmed reports, Belgian media said the pair were being investigated as possible suppliers of the suicide bombs used in the attacks, since ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser that can be used to make explosives, was recovered from their homes.
Prosecutors have identified five of the seven attackers who died in the assaults: four Frenchmen and a foreigner who was fingerprinted in Greece last month and later claimed asylum in Serbia. The man was carrying a Syrian passport bearing the name Ahmad Almohammad.Prosecutors have identified five of the seven attackers who died in the assaults: four Frenchmen and a foreigner who was fingerprinted in Greece last month and later claimed asylum in Serbia. The man was carrying a Syrian passport bearing the name Ahmad Almohammad.
While the passport is almost certainly fake – and so far there is no clue as to the actual identity or nationality of the attacker who used it – the possibility that one of the terrorists may have entered Europe through one of the main refugee trails of the summer has reignited a fierce EU row about border security and how to tackle the continuing arrivals.While the passport is almost certainly fake – and so far there is no clue as to the actual identity or nationality of the attacker who used it – the possibility that one of the terrorists may have entered Europe through one of the main refugee trails of the summer has reignited a fierce EU row about border security and how to tackle the continuing arrivals.
Three of the suicide bombers have been named as Omar Ismaïl Mostefai, 29, from Chartres, south-west of Paris, Samy Amimour, 28, a former bus driver from the Paris suburb of Drancy, and Bilal Hadfi, 20, a French national living in Belgium.Three of the suicide bombers have been named as Omar Ismaïl Mostefai, 29, from Chartres, south-west of Paris, Samy Amimour, 28, a former bus driver from the Paris suburb of Drancy, and Bilal Hadfi, 20, a French national living in Belgium.
All three are thought to have spent time in Syria in the past two years. About 520 French nationals are believed to be in Syria and Iraq, while 250 have returned home.All three are thought to have spent time in Syria in the past two years. About 520 French nationals are believed to be in Syria and Iraq, while 250 have returned home.