Anti-terror operation in Saint Denis suburb near Paris

(Vatican Radio)  Heavy gunfire has been heard early Wednesday morning in a north Paris suburb, reportedly in connection with a manhunt for fugitives involved in last Friday’s terror attacks in which 129 people were killed.  

Listen to Devin Watkins' report:

The sound of heavy gunfire awoke residents in a suburb in north Paris Wednesday morning at around 4.30 am.

The Deputy Mayor of Saint Denis suburb, Stephane Peu, confirmed that the gunfire is in connection with a police operation and not part of a new terrorist attack.

Several people reportedly holed themselves up in an apartment only 2 kilometers away from where Friday’s attack took place on the Stade de France.

Police told the AFP news agency they are moving against Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of Friday’s Paris attacks.

There are also unconfirmed reports that 7 explosions were heard in the connection with the Saint Denis operation, and at least one passerby was killed.

Transport in the district has been shut down and school will remain closed for the day.

Meanwhile, two Air France flights headed to Paris from the United States were rerouted last night after an anonymous phone call threat saying there was a bomb on board both planes.

One flight departed from Los Angeles, California and was rerouted to Salt Lake City, Utah, while the other departed from Washington DC and landed safely in Halifax, Canada.

Both flights landed and passengers disembarked without a problem, and a search has yet to reveal any explosive device.