French special forces are conducting an operation in St Denis north of Paris.

Officers are said to have surrounded an apartment where up to five people have barricaded themselves in.

Three people – a passer-by, a suicide bomber and another suspect – are reported to have died.

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Sources said that the target of the raid was the suspected mastermind of Friday’s attacks that killed 129, Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud. At least one of the attackers Salah Abdelslam could also have been in the apartment, local media report.

The confrontation began at around 4:20am local time when police seem to have exchanged fire with a woman who subsequently detonated a suicide belt.

With residents of the apartment block in central Saint Denis trapped in their homes, a siege ensued during which a police sniper apparently managed to take out another suspect.

Three further suspects are thought to have been arrested, while at least one remains at large.

Schools in the area have been closed and public transport shut down.

Here is a timeline of the events which began this morning, Wednesday 18th November, in northern Paris.