Paris Attack 'Mastermind' Confirmed Dead in Police Raid

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Nov 19, 2015

Paris Attack 'Mastermind' Confirmed Dead in Police Raid

The ringleader behind last Friday’s Paris terrorist attacks has reportedly been killed in a police raid. ABC News reports Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the so-called Paris attack “mastermind,” was found in an apartment in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Wednesday morning (Nov. 18). 

Abaaoud was a Belgian citizen and prominent ISIS recruiter, appearing in several videos of the terrorist group.

Police entered the apartment at 4:30 a.m. local time time, firing nearly 5,000 rounds over a seven hour period. 

A woman in the apartment detonated a suicide vest, killing herself and causing part of the building to collapse. 

Abaaoud was identified by his fingerprints; his body was “riddled was impacts” according to a statement from the prosecutor. 

The raid also apprehended three other suspects. 

Authorities believe the suspects in the apartment were preparing for another attack. 

Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said, "We have reason to believe, given their weaponry, given their structured organization, and their determination, we have reason to believe this commando cell could have moved to act.” 

Publication date: November 19, 2015



Paris Attack 'Mastermind' Confirmed Dead in Police Raid