News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Major anti-terror operation in Paris

French police and soldiers have carried out a major anti-terror operation in St Denis in Paris targeting the suspected mastermind of the terror attacks carried out last Friday, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, and his accomplices. Abaaoud was believed to be in Syria. It is not clear if he is among three gunmen detained in the operation or whether he was in fact present in the apartment targeted. DNA checks are being carried out to establish the detainees’ identity. Four other people have also been arrested.

Two dead in Paris anti-terror raid

At least two people were killed in the raid, one a woman who detonated a suicide vest she was wearing. She was believed to be a relative of Abaaoud. At least five police officers were injured in the operation which began before dawn and involved a 90 minute gun battle and a series of explosions. British anti-terror expert Dr John Gearson: “I think we are seeing possibly the rolling up of the unit that carried out the attacks on Friday. But the big concern for European security chiefs must be the capacity of IS to launch attacks in other countries, perhaps Germany, Belgium or even the United Kingdom in the coming days.” Meanwhile French authorities say all 129 victims of the terror attacks in Paris have now been identified.

IS members ‘leaving Raqqa’

The monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Air says air strikes carried out by France and other forces have killed at least 33 Islamic State militants in Raqqa, the IS stronghold in Syria, over the past three days. Activists are reporting that Islamic State members and families of the leaders have begun leaving Raqqa for Mosul in Iraq, which is also controlled by Islamic State.

Obama condemns anti-refugee rhetoric

United States president Barack Obama has strongly criticised Republicans in Congress and state governors who want to stop the US taking in refugees from Syria. Obama said exaggerating risks only strengthened the Islamic State terror group: “We are not well-served when in response to a terror attack we descend into fear and panic.”

Suicide bombing in Nigeria

Authorities in Nigeria say at least thirty people have been killed and 80 wounded in a suicide bombing in the north east of the country. Boko Haram extremists have been blamed for the attack. Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the arrest of Nigeria’s former national security adviser, who is accused of stealing around 2 billion dollars meant to be used to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

Saudi forces targeted

Saudi Arabia says two members of its security forces have been killed after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle. The attack took place in the predominantly Shiite eastern region of al-Qatif.

The Weather

Generally sunny, some cloud in the north. Stormy winds. Top temperatures mainly 11 to 19 degrees, and up to 22 in the east.

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