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France Unsure if Raid Killed Top Suspect in Paris Attacks France Unsure if Raid Killed Top Suspect in Paris Attacks
(about 2 hours later)
ST.-DENIS, France — The prosecutor overseeing the investigation into the Paris terrorist attacks said Wednesday night that the authorities were trying to determine whether Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Belgian militant suspected of being the ringleader, died in a police raid hours earlier on an apartment in the northern Paris suburb of St.-Denis. ST.-DENIS, France — The assault began before dawn Wednesday at a decrepit squat in a close suburb of Paris when scores of French police officers stormed a third-floor apartment in search of their elusive quarry: Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian suspected of organizing last week’s deadly attacks by the Islamic State in Paris.
At least two people died in the operation — a young woman who set off an explosive belt or vest, and a person whose body was riddled with gunfire and shrapnel — and eight others were arrested. To get through a reinforced door, the police had to set explosives, giving the people inside time to prepare. A furious firefight ensued, with the police unleashing 5,000 rounds over the next hour and employing snipers and grenades. A female suicide bomber exploded her vest, collapsing the floor.
The prosecutor, François Molins, said that Mr. Abaaoud and another fugitive, Salah Abdeslam, were not among those arrested. But he said the authorities were not certain how many people died, or who, leaving open the possibility that the men might be on the run. “As I speak, I am unable to give you a definitive number and identities of people killed,” he said. When it was all over, the police had swept eight people into custody and found at least two mangled bodies. Mr. Abaaoud had not been taken alive, the authorities said — and it was not clear whether one of the bodies was his.
Mr. Molins said the fighting was so intense — the police fired more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, and a gun battle went on with hardly any interruption for nearly an hour, he said — that it could take some time for the authorities to determine what had happened inside the building. Parts of it were at risk of collapse and had to be shored up. “I am not able to give you the definitive number and identities of the people who were killed,” the Paris prosecutor, François Molins, said, adding that neither Mr. Abaaoud nor Salah Abdeslam, another suspected Paris attacker who has been on the loose, was among those arrested.
The police operation transfixed a country still reeling from the attacks, the worst terrorist assault in Western Europe since 2004; officials said Wednesday that they had finally completed the grim task of positively identifying all 129 of the people who were killed. The day of further violence left Paris on edge once again and much of the world transfixed as the manhunt for Mr. Abaaoud and his accomplices played out. Evening brought only uncertainty about whether the threat had been eradicated or whether Mr. Abaaoud, who has boasted of eluding capture, remained at large.
Intelligence officials in France and the United States had said that they believed Mr. Abaaoud was in Syria — where he traveled last year to fight for the Islamic State, and lured his 13-year-old brother to join him. It now appears he may have been in Europe all along. Adding to the confusion was the identity of the female suicide bomber, believed to be the first woman affiliated with the Islamic State to have blown herself up, other than those with Boko Haram, the militant Islamist group in Nigeria. Two French intelligence officials briefed on the investigation said she was believed to be a cousin of Mr. Abaaoud, Hasna Aitboulahcen, 26, who worked for a nearby company.
The authorities were given a tip on Monday night that Mr. Abaaoud might be in France, Mr. Molins said. They had obtained, through phone records, surveillance and witness statement, evidence “that could have suggested that the man named Abaaoud was potentially in an apartment used for plotting in St.-Denis,” Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in an earlier briefing. Mr. Molins suggested that the raid might have averted another terrorist attack, given the determination and organization shown by the group and the extent of its weaponry. “This commando group was ready to act,” he said.
The authorities decided to act. The breakthrough appeared to have come with a tip on Monday night: Mr. Abbaoud, an Islamic State militant linked to a series of previous attacks, was not in Syria, as some intelligence officials had thought, or his native Belgium. If the tip was to be believed, he was in France.
At 4:20 a.m. Paris time, they stormed the three-story apartment, in a dingy building on the Rue du Corbillon, which local officials and neighbors described as a drug-infested and dangerous street that has many squatters. The authorities pored over telephone and banking records, Mr. Molins said. One clue led to another, until the authorities concluded that it was likely that Mr. Abbaoud was holed up in St. Denis, the suburb on the northern edge of Paris where the attacks began last Friday night at 9:20 p.m. with a suicide explosion at the nearby national soccer stadium.
Backed by truckloads of soldiers, 110 officers from two special police units cordoned off an area near the Place Jean Jaurès, a main square in the medieval heart of the city — not far from the Stade de France, where three attackers blew themselves up Friday. The officers were armed with assault rifles, grenades and other explosives. At 4:20 a.m. Paris time on Wednesday, police assault teams stormed the three-story building on the Rue du Corbillon, which local officials and neighbors described as a drug-infested and dangerous street that has many squatters.
The police tore through a door that had been heavily reinforced; the people inside were heavily armed and, it seems, prepared. The woman wearing the suicide vest detonated it, setting off an explosion that caused the floor of the apartment to collapse. Backed by truckloads of soldiers, 110 officers from two special police units cordoned off an area near the Place Jean Jaurès, a main square in the medieval heart of the city.
Djamila Khaldi, a 54-year-old cashier who lives near the basilica, was preparing to take her daughter to the airport when the gunfire erupted.
Ms. Khaldi said she was not surprised the police had tracked the suspects to the neighborhood. She said a friend of hers believed she had seen Mr. Abdeslam on Monday.
“She was terrified, and she looked at another woman knowing that she recognized him too,” Ms. Khaldi said. “They did not dare to go to the police.”
The police conducted a simultaneous raid on the nearby Boulevard Carnot, the home of someone identified as having been in contact with the people at the Rue du Corbillon. The apartment was empty and no weapons were found there, but a man and a woman outside the apartment were detained.The police conducted a simultaneous raid on the nearby Boulevard Carnot, the home of someone identified as having been in contact with the people at the Rue du Corbillon. The apartment was empty and no weapons were found there, but a man and a woman outside the apartment were detained.
Before he was handcuffed and led away by the police, the man told Agence France-Presse that he had lent the apartment to the men as a favor to a friend: “I said that there was no mattress; they told me, ‘It’s not a problem,’ they just wanted water and to pray.” Before he was handcuffed and led away by the police, the man told Agence France-Presse that he had lent the apartment to the men as a favor to a friend: “I said that there was no mattress, they told me, ‘It’s not a problem,’ they just wanted water and to pray.”
St.-Denis, a city of 118,000, is known for its melting-pot population and large Muslim community, as well as a Gothic basilica where many French monarchs are buried.
As the raids were being carried out, the police shouted at pedestrians to get off the street or seek cover; officers even broke through the door of a small church, St.-Denys de l’Estrée, chasing down what turned out to be a false alarm.As the raids were being carried out, the police shouted at pedestrians to get off the street or seek cover; officers even broke through the door of a small church, St.-Denys de l’Estrée, chasing down what turned out to be a false alarm.
At 11:47 a.m., after more than seven hours, a government spokesman, Stéphane Le Foll, declared that the operation was over. Five police officers were lightly wounded, and a 7-year-old police dog, a Malinois named Diesel, was killed. At 11:47 a.m., after more than seven hours, the government spokesman Stéphane Le Foll declared that the operation was over. Five police officers were slightly wounded, and a 7-year-old police dog, a Malinois named Diesel, was killed.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Justice Minister Christiane Taubira joined President François Hollande and Mr. Cazeneuve, the interior minister, at the Élysée Palace to monitor the operation. Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Justice Minister Christiane Taubira had joined President François Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve at the Élysée Palace to monitor the operation.
Mr. Molins said the assault was one result of an investigation that is gathering steam. “A new team of terrorists has been neutralized, and everything suggests that, in view of their weaponry, their structured organization and their determination, this commando group was ready to act,” he said. The raid was just the most spectacular of an aggressive counterterrorism campaign the French government has been conducting since Friday night. Officials said Wednesday that they had identified all 129 of the people who were killed Friday.
Mr. Cazeneuve said Wednesday that the police had conducted 414 raids across the country over the past three nights. Sixty people have been arrested and detained and 75 weapons seized, including 11 heavy weapons, 33 long firearms and 31 handguns, the statement said. An additional 118 people were put under house arrest. . Mr. Cazeneuve said Wednesday that the police had conducted 414 raids across the country over the past three nights. Sixty people have been arrested and detained, and 75 weapons seized, including 11 heavy weapons, 33 long firearms and 31 handguns, the statement said. An additional 118 people were put under house arrest.
Officials have been piecing together the planning for the attacks. They said that some of the plotters had rented a house in the northeast Paris suburb of Bobigny, and others took out a hotel suite in the southeast Paris suburb of Alfortville.Officials have been piecing together the planning for the attacks. They said that some of the plotters had rented a house in the northeast Paris suburb of Bobigny, and others took out a hotel suite in the southeast Paris suburb of Alfortville.
Mr. Molins said that a cellphone found in a trash can near the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people died Friday, had led the police to the Alfortville hotel. The phone contained a text message — “on est parti on commence” — that loosely translates as “here we go, we’re starting” or as “we have left, we’re starting.” Mr. Molins said a cellphone found in a trash can near the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people died Friday, had led the police to the Alfortville hotel. The phone contained a text message — “on est parti on commence” — that loosely translates as “here we go, we’re starting” or as “we have left, we’re starting.”
St.-Denis, a city of 118,000, is known for its melting-pot population and large Muslim community, as well as a Gothic basilica where many French monarchs are buried. Mr. Molins said investigators had determined that the attackers had arrived in Paris on Thursday in three cars rented by Mr, Abdeslam and his brother Ibrahim, who would blow himself up in a cafe on Friday night after shooting numerous Parisians in bars and restaurants.
Djamila Khaldi, a 54-year-old cashier who lives near the basilica, was preparing to take her daughter to the airport when the gunfire erupted. After the raids, Mr. Hollande told a conference of French mayors that the operation “confirms that we are at war.” He said he would travel to Washington next week to meet President Obama, and to Moscow two days later to meet President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, to discuss the formation of “a large coalition” to act “decisively” against the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Ms. Khaldi said she was not surprised the police had tracked the suspects to the neighborhood. She said a friend of hers believed she had seen one of the wanted men, Mr. Abdeslam, on Monday.
“She was terrified, and she looked at another woman knowing that she recognized him too,” Ms. Khaldi said. “They did not dare to go to the police.”
Didier Paillard, the mayor of St.-Denis, said the Rue du Corbillon, where the raid occurred, had “many buildings and habitats in a disgraceful state,” with some apartments lacking even electricity and running water. “We were not prepared for this discovery,” he said of the raid. “This is a city that has 130 different nationalities, including people who come from war zones. We are a population that needs serenity.”
After the raids, Mr. Hollande told a conference of French mayors that the operation “confirms that we are at war.” He said he would travel to Washington next week to meet President Obama, and to Moscow two days later to meet President Vladmir V. Putin of Russia, to discuss the formation of “a large coalition” to act “decisively” against the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL.
“Daesh has financial and oil resources, and has created young radical Islamists through complicity in Europe and within our own country,” Mr. Hollande told the gathering, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.“Daesh has financial and oil resources, and has created young radical Islamists through complicity in Europe and within our own country,” Mr. Hollande told the gathering, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
“Their attacks bloodied Paris and St.-Denis,” he added, “but it is the entire country that has been attacked.”“Their attacks bloodied Paris and St.-Denis,” he added, “but it is the entire country that has been attacked.”
Mr. Hollande declared a state of emergency on Friday and has sought sweeping new authority, including constitutional amendments, which he says would make it easier to fight terrorism. On Wednesday, he said the government would help the mayors equip and arm local police officers. He also said that the government was introducing legislation that would make it possible to “immediately” dissolve organizations that glorify terrorism.Mr. Hollande declared a state of emergency on Friday and has sought sweeping new authority, including constitutional amendments, which he says would make it easier to fight terrorism. On Wednesday, he said the government would help the mayors equip and arm local police officers. He also said that the government was introducing legislation that would make it possible to “immediately” dissolve organizations that glorify terrorism.
“I say it firmly: France will remain the country of liberty, of movements, of culture,” he said. “An active, valiant, dynamic country.”“I say it firmly: France will remain the country of liberty, of movements, of culture,” he said. “An active, valiant, dynamic country.”
“What would France be without its museums, without its terraces, without its concerts, without its sports competitions?” he added.“What would France be without its museums, without its terraces, without its concerts, without its sports competitions?” he added.
Belgium, where Mr. Abaaoud is believed to have organized the attacks, remained on a state of high alert on Wednesday, as the authorities continued to search for Mr. Abdeslam, who is thought to have been part of the plot. (His brother Ibrahim was one of the seven attackers who died Friday.) Belgium, where Mr. Abaaoud is believed to have organized the attacks, remained on a state of high alert on Wednesday. The number of federal police officers patrolling Brussels will be doubled starting Thursday, to 40 from 20 during the day, and to 30 from 15 at night, Interior Minister Jan Jambon announced.
The number of federal police officers patrolling Brussels will be doubled starting Thursday, to 40 from 20 during the day, and to 30 from 15 at night, Interior Minister Jan Jambon announced.
Molenbeek, a working-class Brussels neighborhood, was the base for Mr. Abaaoud, the suspected plotter, and for the Abdeslam brothers. (A third brother, Mohamed, who lives there, was not involved in the attacks and has pleaded for Salah to turn himself in.)Molenbeek, a working-class Brussels neighborhood, was the base for Mr. Abaaoud, the suspected plotter, and for the Abdeslam brothers. (A third brother, Mohamed, who lives there, was not involved in the attacks and has pleaded for Salah to turn himself in.)
Salah Abdeslam was thought to have escaped to Brussels after the attacks. He has been the subject of an intense international manhunt. The authorities said Tuesday that they were looking for a second fugitive; it turned out that man was Mr. Abaaoud. In Molenbeek on Wednesday, some 2,000 people gathered in the market square, not far from where Mr. Abaaoud grew up, to mourn the victims of the Paris attacks. Security was tight — police frisked everyone upon entering — but the vigil went on without incident.
In Molenbeek on Wednesday, some 2,000 people gathered in the market square, not far from where Mr. Abaaoud grew up, to mourn the victims of the Paris attacks. Security was tight — the police frisked everyone upon entering — but the vigil went on without incident.