Two people have been reported dead and seven others arrested during a raid conducted by the French police on Wednesday at an apartment in the Parisian suburb of Saint Denis. The police said the operation was targeted at Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged mastermind of Friday’s terror attacks in Paris, in which 129 people were killed. The Paris prosecutor, Francois Molins, told journalists that it is still unclear whether Abaaoud was in the apartment at the time of the raid.
A woman wearing an explosive vest blew herself up after the police tried to storm into the apartment, officials said. Another suspect was shot an killed by the police during the raid that lasted more than seven hours. Five officers were injured and a police dog was also killed during the operation.
The Paris prosecutor's office said SWAT teams arrested three people in the apartment, who have not been identified yet. Another man and woman were detained nearby the apartment, it said. French President Francois Hollande held an emergency meeting with senior ministers at the Elysee Palace to monitor the raid, reported the Associated Press.
The apartment is located less than two kilometers away from the Stade de France stadium, which was one of the locations of the terror attacks. Three suicide bombers blew themselves up near the stadium during an international football match between France and Germany on Friday, with Hollande in attendance.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!