Mastermind of Paris attacks named

DEATH IN PARIS Bodies of shooting victims lie on the pavement outside La Belle Equipe restaurant in Paris on Friday night, after unidentified gunmen opened fire at the diners. The series of shooting attacks happened in six different spots within the City of Light. AP

ANTITERROR intelligence officials have identified Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, as the chief architect of the Friday the 13th attacks on a rock concert, a soccer game and popular nightspots in one of Paris’ trendiest districts.

A French security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cited chatter from Islamic State (IS) figures that Abaaoud had recommended a concert as an ideal target for inflicting maximum casualties, as well as electronic communications between Abaaoud and one of the Paris attackers who blew himself up.

Abaaoud came to public attention last year by boasting in an IS propaganda video about his pride in piling the dead bodies of “infidel” enemies into a trailer.

Antiterror agencies previously linked him to a series of abortive shooting plots this year in Belgium and France, including a planned attack on a passenger train that was thwarted by American passengers who overpowered the lone gunman.

French police have used emergency powers to conduct 168 searches since Sunday night that netted 127 arrests and 31 high-powered weapons.

But police have yet to announce the capture of anyone suspected of direct involvement in Friday’s slaughter. Seven attackers died—six after detonating suicide belts and a seventh from police gunfire—but Iraqi intelligence officials told The Associated Press that its sources indicated 19 participated in the attack and five others provided hands-on logistical support. AP