The man initially believed to have masterminded the Paris attacks was only a “coordinator” and French intelligence have now discovered the true identity of the terrorist leader who planned the massacre, it emerged on Thursday.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian-Moroccan killed by police five days after the November 13 atrocities, was only a go-between, not a senior figure, the head of France’s external intelligence agency told a parliamentary inquiry.

“We know the mastermind but I will remain discreet on this point,” Bernard Bajolet testified to a committee of MPs.

Security sources said the Isil commander who ordered the attacks remains at large. They declined to specify his name or whereabouts but said every effort was being made to capture him.

Mr Bajolet said it had become clear that Abaaoud, who was 28 when he was killed, did not plan the strikes on the Bataclan concert hall, bars, restaurants and the national stadium, the Stade de France, which left 130 dead and hundreds injured.