France bombs IS headquarters in Raqqa; hunts attacker who got away

France on Sunday launched massive airstrikes on an Islamic State terrorist camp near the Syrian town of Raqqa, a zone controlled by the jihadist group, officials with the French Defense Ministry told EFE.

The French Air Force posted videos on its Facebook page of the planes embarking on the raid.

A few 20 bombs were dropped, marking the biggest air strikes by French forces since the country extended its bombing campaign against the extremist group to Syria in September. The aircraft involved in the strikes flew from both Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, said another French official.

The Islamic State’s Paris attacks follow a series of failed similar attempts but succeeded through the level of organisation and training involved, as well as the group’s ability to exploit freedom of movement within the Schengen Area. Abu Oud had previously fought for ISIS in Syria and allegedly masterminded a foiled terror plot back in January in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Abdeslam rented the black Volkswagen Polo used by the hostage-takers, another French security official said.

French police have carried out “more than 150” raids on suspected militants since the attacks on Paris, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Monday (Nov 16), as a source in the southeastern city of Lyon said an arsenal of weapons had been seized there. The second brother is in custody while the third, 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam, is thought to be on the run.

France believes Mostefai, a petty criminal who never served time in jail, visited Syria in 2013-2014. Among them was 29-year-old Paris native Omar Ismail Mostefai.

“He seemed very young”.

Determined to root out jihadists within French communities, [French President Francois] Hollande said he would present a bill Wednesday seeking to extend a state of emergency – granting the police and military greater powers of search and arrest, and local governments the right to ban demonstrations and impose curfews – for another three months. The passport was also registered in Serbia and Croatia.

Paris remains on edge amid three days of official mourning. Panic ensued Sunday night as police abruptly cleared hundreds of mourners from the famed Place de la Republique square, where police said firecrackers sparked a false alarm.

“Whoever starts running starts everyone else running”, said Alice Carton, city council member who was at the square. Eighty-nine people were killed and many more wounded.

“Lots of people started running and screaming from the Carillon…tables were overturned, plates shattered”. “I think people are terrified”, Dogan said.