Paris terror attacks mastermind �killed�

33 IS men killed as Russia joins French raids in Syria

A massive police raid early today killed the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks during a blitz-style sweep, The Washington Post reports quoting two senior European intelligence officials, after investigators followed leads that the fugitive militant was holed up north of the French capital and could be plotting another wave of violence.
More than 100 police and soldiers stormed the building during a seven-hour siege that left two dead including the suspected overseer of the Paris bloodshed, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian extremist who had once boasted he could slip easily between Europe and the Islamic State strongholds in Syria.
The confirmation was made after forsenic experts combed through the aftermath — blown-out windows, floors collapsed by explosions — presumably seeking DNA and other evidence. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity before announcements from authorities.
Paris prosecutor François Molins later told a news conference that Abaaoud had “entrenched himself on the third floor” of the apartment building. He said he could not yet provide the identities of the two people who died at the scene, but he added that neither Abaaoud nor another wanted suspect, Salah Abdeslam, was among a total of eight people — seven men and one woman — who were detained at the apartment and other locations Wednesday.
The death of the Abaaoud would close one major dragnet in the international search for suspects from Friday’s carnage that killed at least 129 people and wounded 350 others. At least one other suspect believed closely linked to the Paris attacks remains at large.
But it raised other worrisome questions, including the apparent ability of Abaaoud to evade intelligence agencies while traveling through Europe and whether other possible Islamic State cells could be seeking to strike again.
As security forces closed in, a woman set off a suicide blast — possibly an explosive-rigged vest or belt — after opening fire. In addition, at least seven people were arrested before the showdown was over in the historic heart of Saint-Denis, a teeming quarter with a large immigrant population.
French media identified the suicide bomber as Hasna Aitboulahcen, a cousin of Abaaoud. The 26-year-old French citizen is a former manager of Beko Construction, a company in Epernay-sur-Seine, a town north of Saint-Denis. That company was closed in 2014.
 It was not clear if the ninth man was one of two suspected accomplices detained in Belgium or was still on the run, potentially with 26-year-old fugitive Frenchman Salah Abdeslam who took part in the attacks with his suicide-bomber brother Brahim.
Police also carried out multiple raids in southwest France.  French President Francois Hollande was to hold discussions Wednesday on extending to three months the state of emergency declared after the worst attacks in French history.  Lawmakers will vote on the proposal on Thursday and Friday.
As police stepped up the hunt for the fugitives, French and Russian jets pounded IS targets in the group’s Syrian stronghold of Raqa for a third consecutive day.
A monitoring group said the French and Russian air strikes had killed at least 33 IS jihadists in the last 72 hours.

 

Paris terror attacks mastermind �killed�

33 IS men killed as Russia joins French raids in Syria

A massive police raid early today killed the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks during a blitz-style sweep, The Washington Post reports quoting two senior European intelligence officials, after investigators followed leads that the fugitive militant was holed up north of the French capital and could be plotting another wave of violence. More than 100 police and soldiers stormed the building during a seven-hour siege that left two dead including the suspected overseer of the Paris bloodshed, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian extremist who had once boasted he could slip easily between Europe and the Islamic State strongholds in Syria. The confirmation was made after forsenic experts combed through the aftermath blown-out windows, floors collapsed by explosions presumably seeking DNA and other evidence. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity before announcements from authorities. Paris prosecutor Franois Molins later told a news conference that Abaaoud had entrenched himself on the third floor of the apartment building. He said he could not yet provide the identities of the two people who died at the scene, but he added that neither Abaaoud nor another wanted suspect, Salah Abdeslam, was among a total of eight people seven men and one woman who were detained at the apartment and other locations Wednesday. The death of the Abaaoud would close one major dragnet in the international search for suspects from Fridays carnage that killed at least 129 people and wounded 350 others. At least one other suspect believed closely linked to the Paris attacks remains at large. But it raised other worrisome questions, including the apparent ability of Abaaoud to evade intelligence agencies while traveling through Europe and whether other possible Islamic State cells could be seeking to strike again. As security forces closed in, a woman set off a suicide blast possibly an explosive-rigged vest or belt after opening fire. In addition, at least seven people were arrested before the showdown was over in the historic heart of Saint-Denis, a teeming quarter with a large immigrant population. French media identified the suicide bomber as Hasna Aitboulahcen, a cousin of Abaaoud. The 26-year-old French citizen is a former manager of Beko Construction, a company in Epernay-sur-Seine, a town north of Saint-Denis. That company was closed in 2014. It was not clear if the ninth man was one of two suspected accomplices detained in Belgium or was still on the run, potentially with 26-year-old fugitive Frenchman Salah Abdeslam who took part in the attacks with his suicide-bomber brother Brahim. Police also carried out multiple raids in southwest France. French President Francois Hollande was to hold discussions Wednesday on extending to three months the state of emergency declared after the worst attacks in French history. Lawmakers will vote on the proposal on Thursday and Friday. As police stepped up the hunt for the fugitives, French and Russian jets pounded IS targets in the groups Syrian stronghold of Raqa for a third consecutive day. A monitoring group said the French and Russian air strikes had killed at least 33 IS jihadists in the last 72 hours.