2 suspects killed in ‘terror cell’ raid
PARIS: Two armed terror suspects were killed and seven people were arrested during a police raid in the north Paris suburb of Saint-Denis as security forces continued the hunt for a ninth suspect behind the Paris attacks.
The early morning anti-terrorist raid targeted Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian jihadist of Moroccan origin believed to be the mastermind behind attacks that killed at least 129 people in Paris last Friday.
It could not be confirmed whether he was among the terrorists killed or arrested yesterday.
The dead terror suspects include a woman who blew herself up and a man who was shot by police snipers, Paris prosecutors said.
The woman suicide bomber, who is believed to be a relative of Abaaoud, had been under police surveillance since Tuesday over possible links with Abaaoud.
“A women hidden in the apartment, who activated her explosive vest at the beginning of the assault, is dead,” Paris prosecutor François Molins said yesterday.
“Three men, who were hiding in the apartment, were extracted by Raid (a special unit of French National Police) and put into custody,” he added.
He said another man and a woman were also arrested near the apartment at the beginning of the operation. A further two people were arrested later, bring the total number of arrested to seven during the operation, including the proprietor of the apartment who denied any acknowledge of the people inside.
Five police officers were slightly injured, and a police dog was killed. A passer-by was killed at the beginning of the assault.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the site of the raid around noon, accompanied by Molins.
“We have evidence that suggest Abdelhamid Abaaoud was in a conspirator’s apartment,” Molins explained. Abaaoud is suspected of having planned terrorists attacks in Belgium, local media reported.
Witnesses at the scene said they heard explosions and gunshots at around 4.30am.
Many soldiers joined police in the raid. – ANA