Paris Attacks Timeline: 7 Arrested & 2 Dead As Police Raid Apartment In Investigation UPDATED
The turmoil continues in Paris as two have died and seven have been arrested after police raided an apartment in Saint-Denis, a suburb of the city, Wednesday morning.
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One alleged suicide bomber was wearing a vest that she detonated. It went off and killed her. Another man died after a grenade exploded in the apartment. Reports now seem to indicate that the man was killed with woman by the explosive vest.
Seven others, including five men who were actually in the apartment as well as a man and a woman who were near the area, were also taken into custody after the raid.
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One anonymous official revealed that the man authorities have been on the hunt for, Abelhamid Abaaoud, was inside the apartment after it was believed he was most likely hiding out in Syria. It's been confirmed that Abaaoud was the target when police busted into the apartment, although no official word if he was inside.
On top of the man and woman dying, a police dog named Diesel also died during the attack. He was seven.
The Fresh President, Francois Holland, has said that the police’s latest action was an attempt to “neutralize terrorists.”
He added that the raid is also a confirmation the country is indeed “at war” with ISIS and the terrorist group is going after France “because of its values and place in the world.”
The raid comes less than a week after 129 people were killed in a series of attacks in the city. As of late, they have all been identified. After combing through phone surveillance and testimonies, officials say that Abaaoud is the top suspect.
Update 9:20 AM EDT: Here's cellphone footage from outside the apartment building posted on YouTube, in which gunfire can be heard.
Update 9:25 AM EDT: The official twitter account of France's National Police posted the below picture and tweet in remembrance of the dog killed in the raid.
Update 11:05 AM EDT: CNN is quoting police sources as saying that the suspects in the apartment were "about to move on some kind of operation." Additionally, the news network is saying that investigators claim they will be using DNA to test remains of the man killed in the blast to see if he was Abaaoud (which means the terrorist may NOT be in police custody).
Update 3:00 PM EDT: The Washington Post is reporting that two European intelligence officials have confirmed that that Abaaoud was killed in the raid.