Police killed the suspected mastermind of the Paris terror attacks and arrested seven in an hours-long raid in the working class Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.
More than 100 police and soldiers stormed the building, and in the end, the terrorist believed to be the main plotter of last Friday's terror strikes, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed, the Washington Post reported. Another terror suspect was killed, and seven arrested.
The death of Abaaoud was confirmed by forensic experts combing through the debris, which included shattered windows and collapsed floors. At least one other suspect thought to have been tied to the Paris attacks is still at large, police said.
Get "Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism" at WND's Superstore
Order "Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategy for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion and Promoting Terrorism" or the companion film, “Disinformation: The Secret Strategy To Destroy The West.” Get both the book and DVD together – at a very special reduced price.
TRENDING: St. Patrick's role on the 'external hard drive'
The raid was "right on time," said one police source, who added the suspects were just "about to move on some kind of operation," CNN reported.
The Guardian reported a woman wearing an explosive-laden suicide vest blew herself up right after police knocked on the door.
According to the Guardian: "At least two people have been killed during a major police operation targeting the alleged mastermind of Friday's terror attacks ... Police sources said a man wanted in connection with the bloody series of suicide bombings and shootings was shot dead by a police sniper during the raid, while the Paris public prosecutor confirmed that a woman had blown herself up by detonating an explosive belt.".
Police escorted children and adults from the scene of the standoff. The Associated Press reported five police had been injured during the operation, which lasted at least seven hours.
Authorities aren't releasing the names of those arrested.
Police were led to the apartment by tracking information found on one of the cell phones of a terrorist killed in last Friday's attacks. A text on one of those phones read, Fox News reported: "Off we go, here we go again." Police were then able to use GPS data to locate the site of the terrorists' hideout in Saint-Denis.
The region is home to some of the area's most notable historic elements, including one of the world's most majestic Gothic churches.