Paris Attacks: Mastermind to Multiple Bombings Found?

The alleged mastermind of the attacks that killed at least 129 people in Paris last Friday has been named. The mastermind behind the attacks was identified as Islamic State leader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old man who was said to also be involved in a gun battle in eastern Belgium in January.

The Guardian reports that Abaaoud, who is a Belgian of Moroccan origin, has already been named by the police as a wanted extremist during a raid on an Isis cell. The security operation that was believed to have destroyed the cell plotting to assassinate Belgian police officers ended with two suspects killed in a fierce battle with the police during a raid in the town of Verviers.

Abaaoud , the leader, was said to have already spent time fighting alongside ISIS in Syria, and was known to security officers after appearing on an ISIS video, where he was shown to have been at the wheel of a car transporting corpses to a mass grave.

Now noted to be leader in the Paris attacks, Abaaoud was also linked to be among those who thwarted attacks on a Paris-bound train in August and foiled a plot to attack a church in April. Other than that, French newspaper Liberation also linked him to Sid Ahmed Ghlam, a French student who was charged with murder, attempted murder and various terror offenses.

Time states that Abaaoud has previously spoken with ISIS publication Dabiq, where she shared his experience about escaping Western intelligence. "Allah chose me, Abuz-Zubayr al-BaljÄ«kÄ« (Khālid), and AbÅ« Khālid al-BaljÄ«kÄ« (Sufyān) to travel to Europe in order to terrorize the crusaders waging war against the Muslims," he said.

"We faced a number of trials during the journey. We spent months trying to find a way into Europe, and by Allah's strength, we succeeded in finally making our way to Belgium. We were then able to obtain weapons and set up a safe house while we planned to carry out operations against the crusaders. All of this was facilitated for us by Allah. There is no might nor power except by Him," he added.

While Abaaoud is still at large, there have been reports about the rest of the terrorist attackers responsible for the bloodshed Friday night.

Omar Ismail Mostefai, 29 and Samy Amimour, 28, are French citizens, who blew themselves up inside the Bataclan.

Ahmad Al-Mohammad, 24 or 25, is a Syrian Citizen born in Idlib in 1990 and Bilal Hadfi, 20, lived in Belgium. Both men blew themselves up at the Stade de France.

Brahim Abdeslam, a French citizen and one of three French brothers that police believed are involved in the attacks. He blew himself up outside Comptoir Voltaire cafe on Boulevard Voltaire. His brother, Salah was believed to have been the one who transported four suicide bombers on to the Bataclan and is identified to be on the run. The third brother suspected to be involved, Mohammed Abdeslam, was released by Belgian police on Monday when his lawyer told the media that he didn't make the same choices as his brothers did.