This morning, there were a series of police raids in the Saint Denis area of Paris. The operation is ongoing.
Here's what we know:
- Up to three people are dead and three others have been arrested during an anti-terrorist raid in northern Paris.
- Explosions and gunfire have been heard since the operation began at around 4.30 local time.
- The northern suburb of St Denis remains in lockdown this morning, with police urging locals to stay indoors, and others to stay away.
- Multiple explosions and heavy gunfire have been heard in this raid involving 50 elite police officers, as well as other armed police and soldiers.
- Police sources said earlier that Abdelhamid Abaaoud – the suspected mastermind of Friday’s attacks was in the apartment and the target of the operation.
- A woman is one of the dead after she detonated a belt.
- Fifteen people have been evacuated from the apartment complex.
Who is Abdelhamid?
The suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks is thought to be from Molenbeek in Brussels, also home to other members of the terror cell that carried out the Paris massacre.
Abdelhamid Abaaoud, aged 27, is reported to have had links to thwarted attacks on a Paris-bound high-speed train when two US soldiers and a civilian overpowered a heavily-armed gunman - and a separate attack on a church.
He also had links to two suspects killed in a counter-terrorism raid in Verviers, Belgium, in January.
Abaaoud, who also uses the name Abu Omar al Baljiki, is of Moroccan origin.
In February of this year, Islamic State's online magazine, Dabiq, carried an interview with an Islamist bearing that name and boasting of having travelled through Europe unnoticed by security forces to organise attacks and procure weapons.
Abaaoud was also named in various media last year as the elder brother of 13-year-old Younes Abaaoud, who left Belgium to become a child-fighter in Syria.
04.16am - AFP reports a shooting St. Denis. According to the BBC, the shooting was connected to the hunt for fugitives.
Fusillade à Saint-Denis, au nord de Paris, lors d'une opération policière #AFP
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) November 18, 2015
04.24 - Reports of a large number of police and vehicles in the area. Residents in the area claim they can hear gunfire from 4.30am. They also report a number of explosions. According to the Guardian, the police are now looking for a ninth suspect, previously unnoticed.
#SaintDenis â–º 3 terroristes tués (dont une kamikaze) â–º 3 interpellés â–º OP tjrs en cours â–º https://t.co/ursrK45wKZ pic.twitter.com/Qpw3Inj9vO
— iTELE (@itele) November 18, 2015
05.07am - Associated Press provide an update of what's going on at the scene
An official says a large police operation is under way in the Paris suburb of St-Denis and it’s believed to be linked to the deadly attacks on the French capital.
The police official says there have been exchanges of gunfire and special SWAT teams are on the scene. The official was not authorised to be publicly named, according to police policy.
Police have blocked off the area around Place Jean Jaurès in Saint Denis, just north of Paris.
French authorities have said they are searching for at least two people involved in last Friday’s attacks, which killed at least 129 people and seven terrorists.
Ambulances can be seen and sirens heard in French television footage from the scene.
5.40am - BBC reports that there is "heavy, heavy gunfire" in the Saint Denis area with police warning residents to remain indoors. Schools are closed for the day. There is also reports that a number of police officers have been injured in the raid.
06.08am - Abdelhamid Abaaoud
Police now begin to report that Abaaoud, profiled above, is the target.
Suspected mastermind of #ParisAttacks A. Abaaoud is target of police raid (police sources) https://t.co/LdSF5PnOUj pic.twitter.com/ZzYuei2RH2
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) November 18, 2015
06.20am - Le Monde reports two dead
Local sources are claiming that two people have died in the Saint Denis area following heavy gunfire.
BREAKING: Police say 2 suspects dead, including a woman, during raid in Saint Denis
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 18, 2015
06.35 - Police insist the operation is not finished and warn residents to stay off the streets. The BBC states that they are unsure if Abaaoud is one of the people in the apartment.
2 à 3 hommes retranchés dans appartement. Pause dans les tirs, hélico éclaire toits d'immeuble à saint Denis pic.twitter.com/rNRB6xG00J
— Djamel Mazi (@djamel_mazi) November 18, 2015
06.53 - Woman detonated suicide belt
BREAKING: Police: Woman wearing suicide explosive vest among 2 killed near Paris, 4 police injured
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 18, 2015
06.59 - Reports of explosions heard
The Guardian further reports that heavy trucks have arrived carrying 100 soldiers.
Series of explosions heard during @atikaCNN’s live report on police raid in Saint-Denis: https://t.co/EEzcNLbZvm https://t.co/tLmkbJGXVu
— CNN (@CNN) November 18, 2015
07.24am - 'Three gunmen' killed
According to AFP, three gunmen are believe to have been killed with a further three arrested. A woman is also believed to be dead after detonating a suicide belt.
The third gunman has been killed by police forces. Total three dead Unclear if any more gunmen inside the building #ParisAttack #SaintDenis
— emily m (@maitlis) November 18, 2015
08.23am - Reports now that two are dead, including a woman.
Associated Press confirms French police saying two suspects are dead, including a woman. Reportedly a third bystander killed but unconfirmed. Amateur footage shows the area with heavy gunfire in the background.
08.34am - One attacker still holed up in apartment
The BBC claims that one attacker is still in the apartment and that four officers are believed to be injured.
#SaintDenis this morning. If #AbdelhamidAbaaoud was here it is truly astonishing. Reporting for @NewstalkFM #ntfm pic.twitter.com/sDkLJAPGrR
— Shona Murray (@ShonaMurrayNT) November 18, 2015
09.11am - Police confirm the raid is ongoing.
[INFO] #SaintDenis Opération #RAID en cours À cette heure, 5 policiers du #RAID sont légèrement blessés.
— Police Nationale (@PNationale) November 18, 2015
