The suspected architect behind the Paris terrorist attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a Wednesday morning police raid in Saint-Denis, French prosecutor François Molins confirmed on Thursday. Initially there was trouble determining whether Abaaoud, who was the target of the raid, had been killed; authorities were able to make a positive ID using his fingerprints. A woman who is believed to have been Abaaoud's cousin was also killed during the raid, after detonating a suicide bomb. A Belgian, Abaaoud had apparently planned to attack additional targets in France, such as Paris' La Defense business district, and had assembled "a total war arsenal." Eight people were arrested during the raid. It is still unclear if Abaaoud was killed by police or if he blew himself up.
Abaaoud had been living in Syria fighting for ISIS, but is thought to have made trips to and from Europe while eluding authorities. As late as Tuesday, U.S. and French officials believed he was still in Syria.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toysUnder The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
