Paris massacre: raids to 150 places, parliament to gather
In Paris, 129 people were killed and 352 people were injured due to simultaneous attacks.
After the attacks, which are declared to be carried by three groups and claimed by ISIS, France declared emergency rule. While President Hollande states that the “state of emergency” is prolonged, both the airstrikes on ISIS settlements in Syria and raids against the places that are used by ISIS in France continue.
Airstrike on Raqqa
France responded the Paris attack by bombing Raqqa, ISIS’ virtual capital in Syria. The French Ministry of Defence declared that the raid, including 12 fighter jets, was launched simultaneously from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan and twenty bombs were dropped. It also declared that, in the raid, the command centre of ISIS, a munitions depot and the training camp and recruitment center for fighters were struck.
Representing his country in G-20 summit in Antalya, the Foreign Minister of France Laurent Fabius stated that raid against ISIS in Raqqa is a “political” decision and France should be more “active” starting from now.
150 raids
The surviving members and the accomplices of the jihadist group which conducted the attack that killed 129 people in Paris on Friday are still being sought. French security forces raided over 150 places in France; it is declared that many people were taken into custody.
The police identified Salah Abdelslam (26) as the main suspect. It is reported that, after the attack, Abdelslam was stopped by the police on the Belgium border, but then he was released after interrogation. There were two people with him. An international warrant is issued against Brussels-born Abdelslam.
Five assailants are identified:
Salah Abdeslam, 26 – sought by the police
Mohammed Abdeslam – arrested in Belgium
Brahim Abdeslam, 31 – exploded himself on Voltaire Boulevard
Ismail Omar Mostefai, 29 – died in Bataclan
Bilal Hadfi, 20 – died in front of Stade de France
Other 4 assailants died during the attacks.
Extraordinary parliament session
It is the third day of the national mourning in Paris which experienced one of the bloodiest attacks in its history. Schools and universities are open and the museums and concert halls that had been closed during weekend will be opened today.
President Hollande called an extraordinary parliament session. This is the second call in the history of France that is addressed all 925 MPs in parliament. The meeting will be held in Versailles and the precautions to be taken will be discussed.
