Heavy Police Presence as Raid Carried Out in Saint-Denis

French police carried out a large raid in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis in the early hours of Wednesday, November 18. Exchange of gunfire and loud explosions were heard in the area, according to witnesses and reports. Numerous local reports said the focus of the operation was Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected mastermind of Friday’s deadly attacks in the French capital.

The Associated Press, citing police officials, said two suspects were killed during the raid – one of whom was a woman who detonated a suicide vest she was wearing. The woman’s death was confirmed by a statement from the office of the Paris prosecutor.

Four police officers were also reportedly injured.

This video shows heavy police presence near the Théâtre Gérard Philipe. Credit: Jonny Leordean