Paris attack suspect believed to be cornered in Belgium

At least nine people have been arrested so far.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has described Islamic State (IS) militants as “psychopathic monsters” following Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris.

A rocket launcher, pistols and a Kalashnikov were reportedly seized.

“Terrorism has hit and will hit again these days in the coming weeks”. “We will act, we will strike and we will win”.

President Francois Hollande called for the “eradication of terrorism”.

The French leader said on Monday, in an exceptional joint gathering of parliament, that he would make the proposals on Wednesday and parliamentarians would vote on them before the end of the week.

“Your American sisters and brothers will stand with you shoulder to shoulder as we have stood together throughout history”. The attackers in the Charlie Hebdo massacre were linked to ISIS-backed extremists in Yemen. Do we then send troops into there?

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, presumed mastermind of Paris attacks.

The poor district of Molenbeek, home to many Muslim immigrants, has been at the center of investigations of militant attacks in Paris over the weekend, after it emerged that two of the attackers had lived in the area.

He also said that it was government intelligence which triggered Monday’s raids. It notified French authorities in December 2014 and in June 2015. “Everyone must be fully aware of that”, Valls said. He added that more terrorist attacks are still being prepared by ISIS, the Syria- and Iraq-based terrorist group that claimed responsibility for Friday attacks.

Terrorist Salah Abdeslam was stopped by French police -and released. RTBF later said one person had been detained.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Monday that authorities believe new terror attacks are being planned in France and in other European countries following the carnage in Paris.

– Authorities are still on the hunt for an eighth suspect they have named as Sala Abdeslam.

Police were actively looking for the latter’s brother Salah, 27, who is believed to have taken part in the attacks and to have subsequently fled. The prosecutor’s office says fingerprints from the attacker match those of someone who passed through Greece in October.

There were also reports of raids in Jeumont, on the border with Belgium, Toulouse and in Bobigny, in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris.

Six senior Iraqi officials confirmed the information in the dispatch, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, and four of these intelligence officials said they also warned France specifically of a potential attack.

– Meanwhile, French war planes continued to pound the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. The raid destroyed an IS command post, jihadist recruitment centre, a munitions depot and a “terrorist” training camp, the defence ministry said. The strike involved 10 fighter jets launched from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

France is to hold a nationwide minute of silence at midday local time for the victims.

Two of them died when they detonated suicide belts and one after being shot by police.

Two of the total seven dead attackers were identified as Ismael Omar Mostefai, 29, and Bilal Hafdi, aged 20.

– Samy Amimour, 28, was another of the suicide bombers at the music venue.