French official identifies suspected mastermind of Paris attacks as Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud

Paris: A French official says the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks was also linked to thwarted train and church attacks.

A French official has identified the suspected mastermind as Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud, and says he is believed linked to thwarted attacks on a Paris-bound high-speed train and Paris area church.

The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, was not authorised to be publicly identified as speaking about the ongoing probe.

Seven people are in custody in Belgium suspected of links to the attacks and an international arrest warrant has been issued for a Belgian-born Frenchman believed involved in the attacks and who is still at large.