Paris terror attacks on Friday 13th

Police raid in town near Paris.

Guardian
The police operation in St-Denis is ongoing, but here is what we currently know:

  • Heavy shooting, including automatic gunfire, and explosions have been reported in St Denis, a northern Paris suburb. St Denis is where the Stade de France, one of the targets of Friday’s attacks, is located, although the current operation is in the centre of the suburb, close to the basilica.
  • The police operation is linked to the search for the so-called “ninth attacker” – believed to be on the run.
  • Shooting began at 4.30am local time (0330 GMT) and continued in bursts for at least 90 minutes.
  • Two or three men are reported to have barricaded themselves in an apartment, exchanging gunfire with officers.
  • At least one police officer has been injured in the operation.
  • Roads have been closed off and the police operation appears to be ongoing, with large numbers of police officers and police vehicles in the area.
  • Residents have been told to stay in their homes and away from windows. Some have been moved to a temporary shelter in the town hall.
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Update

Citing police sources, French news channel BFMTV said the main target of the police operation in St-Denis was the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, believed to have been in Syria but now apparently in France.

The other two men in holed up with him in the apartment block were believed to be Salah Abdeslam, the subject of a major manhunt since Saturday, and an unidentified “ninth attacker” sought since Tuesday night.

A BFM-TV reporter at the scene said the gunfire had now stopped after a battle that continued for more than two hours, since around 4.30am, at an apartment block on the rue Gabriel Péri in St-Denis, north of Paris.

It is not known whether the “massive” police operation had succeeded in capturing them, whether they were injured, or whether negotiations were underway.
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Feckin el. It's never ending. I cannot see a solution to this whole thing. What good will troops or airs trikes do? These cowards simply hide among civilians. At least we knew who we were fighting when the Nazis went through Europe.
 
Not breaking news or an eyewitness account of the raid etc but this interview in the Guardian live feed from an ordinary resident of St Denis just really struck a chord with me.

Djamila Khaldi, a cleaner, 54, lives near the famous Saint-Denis Basilica which draws vast numbers of tourists each year and is not far from the street targeted in the raid at the heart of the town’s historic centre.

“I was up before 4am because I had to drive my daughter to the airport. I heard the shots and I just thought, there must be some kind of stand-off, terrorists must be hiding here. Already since Friday’s attacks there was a heavy atmosphere here.

“People had been asking how the attackers did it, whether any of them were still here. When the police “wanted” photo [of Salah Abdeslam] came up on television, people were asking themselves if it was a face they knew, some were convinced they’d seen him here at some point. There was a lot of fear.

“I thought there was probably a link between drug dealers and the attackers. What can you say?

“Terrorism has come to Saint-Denis, the mood has changed and it will stay that way. People are distrustful, looking at each other. Saint-Denis will be labelled for this now. It’s a real shame.”

Updated at 8.48am GMT
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From http://www.theguardian.com/world/li...mb-threat-live#block-564c29a0e4b0e98c91b0d404
 
Stookie said:
Feckin el. It's never ending. I cannot see a solution to this whole thing. What good will troops or airs trikes do? These cowards simply hide among civilians. At least we knew who we were fighting when the Nazis went through Europe.
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Don't worry it's only an arrestation.
 
Why would they wait to be found? Why didn't they go out and cause some carnage before the police caught up with them?
 
rednev said:
Why would they wait to be found? Why didn't they go out and cause some carnage before the police caught up with them?
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There were nothing to do in France most crowded places were closed in the last four days.
 
rednev said:
Why would they wait to be found? Why didn't they go out and cause some carnage before the police caught up with them?
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The obvious depressing answers are that either they were rigging the apartment to explode (as in Madrid) or they were a diversion so others could escape. Hopefully neither of those is true but I guess it could be hours before we know.
 
rednev said:
Why would they wait to be found? Why didn't they go out and cause some carnage before the police caught up with them?
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Maybe because they hoped they will not be found. Also those "masterminds" usually speak a lot but they are not prepared to do things they speak. You have to be a really crazy to put on bomb vest and blew yourself up.
 
That poor dog was probably shot dead. In the grand sceme of things not important but it struck a cord with me.
 
jojojo said:
The obvious depressing answers are that either they were rigging the apartment to explode (as in Madrid) or they were a diversion so others could escape. Hopefully neither of those is true but I guess it could be hours before we know.
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It wasn't a diversion, unless one of ISIS "mastermind" in Europe was ready to blow himself up, which I doubt.
 
JPRouve said:
It wasn't a diversion, unless one of ISIS "mastermind" in Europe was ready to blow himself up, which I doubt.
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I meant that one reason for a group to stay in the apartment for a shootout is to allow someone else to slip away from the building. I was thinking of this morning's raid, not the past couple of days.
 
jojojo said:
I meant that one reason for a group to stay in the apartment for a shootout is to allow someone else to slip away from the building. I was thinking of this morning's raid, not the past couple of days.
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The police said that no one escaped, the roof of the appartment collapsed, so they don't know if there is someone else in it.

PS: And the neighborhood was closed by the Army.
 
Sources claim the people arrested this morning were on the verge of another attack.
 
VorZakone said:
Apparently a Paris business centre was the target.
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According to what I read the La Defence business district was.

meliaparisladefense-carrusel1.jpg
 
Classical Mechanic said:
The bomb vest that the woman used would suggest that. It is something you want lying round the house for a long period of time.
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They might have them ready for situations like today once they know they're going to hunted, but yeah, you wouldn't really want one of those in your wardrobe for too long.
 
Sultan said:
I think I'd spend all my energy and resources on changing the Muslim communities mindset.

Firstly, I'd get a message out living amongst non-Muslims is a blessing and an opportunity to be ambassadors of Islam. This gives us an opportunity to show the virtues of our faith. Our conduct should be so good in our daily dealings it should captivate whosoever sees us and accepts us in a positive way. We should basically leave an everlasting impression on everyone who comes into contact with us in everyday life. A life of piety will immediately attract people's attention.

Secondly, I'd urge Muslims not to live an insular lifestyle, failing to manifest the beauty of our faith. We must earn our place in our host country. Leave an imprint on the host community of our usefulness. We must demonstrate our existence here is more beneficial than that of the locals. We have to demonstrate we are a blessing and mercy anywhere we live. We cannot just live in an enclosed environment with just our prayers and fasting, negligent to our neighbours and society.

Third, we need to strengthen our position everywhere in the world through deeds I have mentioned above. We need to earn our recognition. Display a noble character. Live as you would as a guest. Strive to master the national language and become proficient so that you can use it effectively. This way the world will begin to love us and our faith, we will then see people stand to defend us. If there is the slightest opposition against us, they will be the first ones to argue on our behalf and vouch what a blessing we are for them.

Fourth, don't get engrossed in pointing fingers at other nations. (I need to take note) Don't believe any present Islamic groups are fighting for a just cause. Remember every person that gets killed without faith is a victory for the satan. Our victory as Muslims is to take every individual on this earth to heaven through being exemplary in our conduct. Power and land are always only temporary as history has proved. That's not our goal.
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+1.

Ed: What the hell, Plus One is censored?

Good post.
 
There's so much unconfirmed information spreading around, I'd prefer some official statements. Other than the number of arrested and dead, there's practically nothing really known yet, not even the IDs.
 
Crossie said:
There's so much unconfirmed information spreading around, I'd prefer some official statements. Other than the number of arrested and dead, there's practically nothing really known yet, not even the IDs.
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Be patient, one of the terrorist lost his head, so it's going to take few minutes to recognize him.
 
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