Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud: Paris attacks ringleader was near Bataclan during concert shooting massacre, says Paris prosecutor

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said that Abaaoud's phone was detected in the centre of Paris and even outside the Bataclan while the plans were underway

Doug Bolton
Tuesday 24 November 2015 15:07 EST
Comments
Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed in a firefight with police in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis
Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed in a firefight with police in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the so-called 'ringleader' of the Paris attacks, returned to the scene of the crime while the shootings were still underway, the Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told a news conference.

Molins said that Abaaoud boarded a metro train going back to the centre of Paris after the attacks began, and said the phone he was believed to be using was detected in the city's 10th, 11th and 12th arrondissements, and by the Bataclan concert hall while attacks there were still going on.

Abaaoud was killed by police in the raid on an apartment in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, which took place five days after the attacks in the centre of Paris.

According to French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, Abaaoud played a "decisive role" in the attacks, and had been implicated in a number of previous attacks, including the attempted shooting on a French high-speed train which was foiled by off-duty American soldiers.

Immediately following the attacks, Abaaoud was thought to be in Syria or Isis-controlled territories in the Middle East.

The fact that the Belgian-born terrorist was in Paris the whole time came as a shock to investigators.

Now, with the prosecutor saying Abaaoud travelled around central Paris while the attacks were underway, it appears that he was even closer than previously thought.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in