Reports on Wedensday afternoon say Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected architect of the Paris attacks, was killed during the raid.
Here are five things you need to know:
1. Residents evacuated
Around 11:32 p.m. ET, reports surfaced of a raid unfolding in the French suburb -- a location less than two miles from France's national stadium, where explosions killed dozens Friday. Authorities instructed Saint Denis residents to remain inside their homes during the police operation. Many residents were later evacuated and transported to the nearby city hall.
2. Searching for Abdelhamid Abaaoud
According to The Associated Press, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the attacks, was believed to be the target of the massive standoff. Abaaoud and other suspects were believed to have been inside an apartment building that French SWAT teams surrounded.
3. Gunfire and explosions
Baptiste Marie, a French witness, told the AP, "There was an hour of gunfire." Another resident described "intense gunfire and explosions." Resident Amine Guizani told AP, "There were grenades. It was going, stopping. Starting again." At least seven explosions were heard, according to AP.
4. Two dead, 8 arrested
Police said two suspects died – including a woman who blew herself up. That woman is believed to have been Abaaoud's cousin. The second person killed has yet to be identified, but reports suggest that Abaaoud, who was not among those arrested, may have been killed. Four officers were injured in the raid, the AP reported. Eight people were arrested, prosecutors said.
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Update: The Washington Post reports that two senior European intelligence officials have confirmed Abaaoud was killed during the raid. According to The Post, forsenic experts combed through DNA and other evidence at the scene of the raid, confirming the death of the attacks' architect. Politico has also reported the news, per confirmation from a Belgian official. The French prosecutor will not release the identities of those killed overnight until further investigations have been conducted.
Editor's note: Update provided Wednesday at 1:40 p.m.
5. No IDs yet
At least one person remained holed up in the apartment five hours after the raid began. The operation ended after seven hours. The suspects have not been publicly identified yet, and it's unclear what actions will be taken against those arrested. Abdelhamid Abaaoud was not among those arrested.
>> Photos: Police raid building in Paris suburb
According to the French goverment, all 129 people who were killed in Friday's terror attacks have been identified, the AP reports.
Another 350 people were wounded at the Stade de France, the Bataclan concert hall and cafes when explosions and shootouts broke out in the French capital.
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