Paris attacks: Who is Abdelhamid Abaaoud?

His brother, Brahim, was among the suicide bombers in Paris. “France’s soul should never be soiled”.

He also asked lawmakers to extend France’s state of emergency and to give his office broader powers to counter imminent threats to national security.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who had boasted of mounting attacks in Europe for Islamic State, was accused of orchestrating Friday’s bombings and shootings in the French capital, which killed 129 people. In a symbolic move, the Eiffel Tower reopened to tourists after a two-day shutdown.

“It’s necessary to establish direct contact with the French and work with them as allies”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said as France prepared to send an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean.

French officials told CNN they have identified a senior member of ISIS – Fabien Clain – who they say helped plan this attack and had a link to a foiled attack in August on the Amsterdam-to-Paris train, as well as foiled attacks on churches in April. Another suspect was shot by police.

Iraqi officials said their intelligence agency suggested that 19 attackers and five back-up activists committed the carnage, an assertion not publicly supported by Western intelligence agencies. “What would France be without its museums, without its terraces, its concerts, its sports competitions?” Suspected of having rented black VW Polo vehicle used in attacks in Paris.

Police stopped him hours after the attacks in a vehicle on his way toward the Belgian border but let him go because he apparently hadn’t yet been linked to the terrorist operation.

An intense manhunt is underway for suspect Salah Abdeslam, 26, who is believed to have been closely involved in the assault.

Another brother, Mohamed, was detained by Belgian police but released without charge yesterday.

“These are not regular people”, Mohamed Abdeslam, 29, said of his brothers.

The Guardian reported that Abaaoud, who is believed to be of Moroccan origin, was first identified as a militant following a raid on an Islamic State cell in the town of Verviers, about 80 miles southeast of Brussels in January.

The French prosecutors conducted 168 overnight raids in France, Mr. Hollande said, and put 104 persons under house arrest.

Paris remains on edge amid three days of official mourning.

Part of the problem appears to be a lack of resources-“very few” of the Belgian police officers patrolling the largely Muslim town of Molenbeek speak Arabic.