Police hunting the Paris terrorists are currently laying siege to a flat where the mastermind of the attacks was believed to be hiding.
Repeated gunfire and explosions could be heard from the scene in the Saint-Denis suburb in the north of the city, close to the Stade de France national stadium, where three suicide bombers blew themselves up during Friday night’s slaughter that killed at least 129 people.
Stunned residents were evacuated from the area as scores of heavily armed officers flooded the streets.
Two suspects are believed to have died during the siege, with a further five arrested.
Police forces prepare in St. Denis, a northern suburb of Paris
Authorities are also searching for two more extremists suspected of taking part in Friday’s attacks.
It would take the total number of attackers to nine, with seven dead and the eighth surviving gunman, Salah Abdeslam, the subject of an international manhunt.
Police believe Abaaoud was in the apartment with up to five other heavily armed people.
At least seven explosions were heard at the scene of the stand-off in rue du Cornillon, in the heart of the historic multi-cultural area north of the city centre.
Soldiers operate in St. Denis, a northern suburb of Paris
VIDEO: Moment gunfire broke out during Paris siege
