Paris attacks: Manhunt for attackers continues, police carry out raids

Paris, Nov 16: A huge manhunt is under way for surviving members and accomplices of the Islamist group suspected to be involved in the Paris terror attacks that killed 129 people and left 350 others injured, media reports said on Monday.

Police have named Belgium-born French national Salah Abdeslam, 26, as a key suspect. He was reportedly stopped by officers in the wake of the attacks - but then let go. Belgium has issued an international warrant for him, CNN reported.

French police released his photo and warned people not to interact with him, terming him dangerous.

Jean-Pascal Thoreau, a spokesman for Belgium's federal prosecutor, said Abdeslam is one of three brothers suspected of involvement in the attacks.

Salah's brother Brahim Abdeslam, 31, is said to have been an attacker who blew himself up outside a bar on the Boulevard Voltaire near the Bataclan concert venue, wounding one person, a BBC report said.

A third brother, Mohammed, was reportedly arrested in the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek while returning from Paris and is in custody. Belgian police said they have made a total of seven arrests.

However, much details have not been provided as to how Salah Abdeslam was involved in the gun and bomb attacks on November 13 at five places across Paris. Seven attackers died in the assault on the French capital, most of them after detonating suicide belts.

The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Meanwhile, French fighter jets on Sunday pounded the Syrian city of Raqqa in retaliation to the bloodshed in the French capital. France is still in a state of emergency and the nation is in mourning.

IANS