Woman terrorist suspect is shot in French police raid

A ‘FANATICAL and radicalised’ female terrorist suspect was shot in the head by French police last night after stabbing an officer during a police special forces raid.

She was said to be planning an ‘imminent attack’ before being shot in Boussy-Saint-Antoine, 20 miles south of Paris.

As the 19-year- old was taken to hospital, two women accomplices were also arrested. Later she was described as being in a ‘ critical condition’ in intensive care.

The three women were also linked to a car filled with seven gas canisters that was found near Notre Dame Cathedral at the weekend. The Peugeot 607 with no number plates was left just across the River Seine, prompting fears of a terrorist attack on the cathedral, which is high on a list of Islamic State targets.

Last night’s drama unfolded soon after 8pm as an elite special forces unit moved into an address at Boussy- Saint-Antoine. As they approached the women, one is said to have drawn a knife and wounded an officer working for the intelligence service, in the shoulder.

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: ‘These three women aged 39, 23 and 19 had been radicalised, were fanatics and were in all likelihood preparing an imminent, violent act.’

The woman shot in the head by the police commandoes was identified as Ines M. She is the daughter of the owner of the Peugeot.

Five explosions were heard when police moved into the house where the three women were holed-up.

Mr Cazeneuve said all the women were being investigated in connection tothe discovery of the car near Notre Dame. The injuries to the officer who was stabbed were ‘not life threatening’.

Another radicalised Frenchwoman who wanted to run away and join Islamic State is in custody in Paris after abandoning the car packed with gas cylinders near Notre Dame. A source close to the case said: ‘It may have been that they were on a test run. There was nobody in the car, and the canisters were not connected to any detonator or explosives. ’

The suspect – who is 29 and on a terror watchlist – disappeared with her boyfriend, aged 34, early on Sunday. The couple were finally caught close to the southern city of Orange on Tuesday, while ‘trying to escape to Spain,’ said a source.

France remains on maximum alert after a series of terrorist attacks in the country.

‘Critical condition in intensive care’