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Suspected Paris mastermind, cousin died in raid

Hadfi died during the Paris attacks on Friday that killed 129 people. Handprint analysis was used to identify the Belgian’s body, which was found among the rubble of the shattered building.

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The main suspect in coordinating the Paris attacks, Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in Wednesday’s raid on an apartment in Saint-Denis.

So far, two of the three people who died in the Saint-Denis raid have been identified: the first being alleged mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud, and the second has been confirmed as his cousin, Hasna Ait Boulahcen.

Valls made the announcement Friday in a speech to the Senate, which is expected to approve a three-month extension to France’s state of emergency.

Manuel Valls said the passport-free Schengen zone is at risk if Europe fails to “take responsibility” over border controls.

France’s national assembly has heard a stark warning that the country could be targeted by chemical or biological weapons.

“More than ever, it’s time for Europe to adopt the text…to guarantee the traceability of movements, including within the (European) Union”. Sweden’s Security Service, known as SAPO, said the request was not linked to the Paris attacks. This is under a police directive issued to coincide with the state of emergency. The raids are centering on “his entourage”, the official said.

“The person that was arrested yesterday has been charged by the investigating judge with participation in terrorist attacks and participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, and placed into custody”, Belgium’s federal prosecutor said in a statement.

A Spanish security official said French authorities had sent a bulletin to police across Europe asking them to watch out for a Citroen Xsara auto that could be carrying Salah Abdeslam, whose brother, Brahim, was among the attackers who blew themselves up. “We think they are honest and we must bring together all our forces”, he told France Inter radio.

Abaaoud was also believed to be behind four of six attacks thwarted this year, including on a church in the Parisian suburb of Villejuif that was foiled when the would-be attacker shot himself in the foot.

Abaaoud was believed to be in Syria after a January police raid in Belgium, but bragged in Islamic State propaganda of his ability to move back and forth between Europe and Syria undetected.

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Officials said later that there was no reason to suspect an immediate threat of a chemical or biological attack but that Mr Valls thought it necessary to place the country on guard.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls attends the questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris France Nov. 17 2015