Crime

Suspected Orchestrator Paris Terrorist Attacks Killed Police Raid Video

Ruth Kamau  ·  September 16, 2015

Paris, France — French police killed a man they described as the key figure behind a string of terrorist plots in the capital during a raid on an apartment in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. The operation, which unfolded overnight, ended with the suspect dead after officers exchanged fire inside the building. Officials said they had been tracking the individual for weeks on suspicion he was coordinating attacks on public targets.

A short video clip released by police shows the moment armed officers moved in on the flat. In the footage, the suspect is seen attempting to flee through a window before being hit by gunfire. Authorities have not released his name pending formal identification, but sources close to the investigation said he was a Belgian national with known links to radical networks in Europe. The raid also led to several arrests in the same area.

Investigators are still piecing together how much damage was averted. One official involved in the case told reporters the suspect had been directing recruits and scouting locations, though no specific plot was said to be hours away from execution. The video has circulated quickly online, drawing both relief and questions about the heavy use of force in a residential neighborhood.

Local residents described hearing a prolonged exchange of shots followed by a tense standoff that lasted into the morning. Streets around the building were cordoned off for hours while bomb technicians checked the scene. Police have not confirmed whether explosives were found.

The death marks the latest in a series of aggressive moves against suspected cells operating in and around Paris. While the immediate threat from this individual appears eliminated, authorities warned that others connected to the same network remain at large.