Two dead in Paris siege, including woman who blew herself up: police

Shooting broke out in northern during a dawn raid by police hunting those behind the attacks that claimed 129 lives in the French capital five days ago, sources said.

Several police were wounded in the anti-terrorism raid, said a source close to the operation, which began before dawn in the suburb of Saint Denis.

Police sources said several unidentified men were still holed up in an apartment as the operation continued at 06:15 am (0515 GMT).

The area is home to the Stade de France, one of several places hit by gunmen and suicide bombers on Friday in the worst ever attack on French soil, which was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Firemen told AFP they they joined the operation against "an armed group holed up in an apartment" at 04:31 am, without giving any further details, adding that one person was lightly hurt.

The area was closed down and intermittent gunfire could still be heard an hour after it started.

Another source said a special armed response unit took part in the raid, which comes as Europe was on high alert after footage from the scene of one of Friday's attacks revealed a ninth suspect may have taken part.

 = AFP