Timeline: How police raid on Saint-Denis apartment unfolded

This is how the latest events in Paris unfolded. (All times local unless stated)

04.25am (03.25 GMT) French police and security forces launch a major operation in the north Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, believed to have Abdelhamid Abaaoud, mastermind of Friday’s attacks, as its target.

Swarms of Swat police supported by military units are seen surrounding an apartment building in Rue du Cornillon, a historic street in a culturally diverse area less than 1.2 miles (2km) from the Stade de France, where terrorists struck on Friday in the first of a series of attacks that left 129 people dead.

According to a senior French police official, Abaaoud has barricaded himself in the flat with up to five heavily armed accomplices.

In an initial offensive, scores of police officers storm the building, although they are held back when they meet heavy resistance and suffer several casualties.

05.55am Vehicles carrying French soldiers and a number of ambulances are seen rushing towards Saint-Denis.

Surrounding roads are sealed off and residents are told to stay indoors.

Deputy Mayor Stephane Peu reassures Parisians that police activity, gunfire and explosions are not a sign of a fresh attack but an “intervention”.

06.27am A helicopter is seen circling over the apartment block and a pedestrian area at the centre of the siege.

Saint-Denis Mayor Didier Paillard says schools in the area will not open and transport has been stopped.

06.55am More police reinforcements arrive at the scene.

07.20am Intense gunfire and at least four explosions are heard in Saint-Denis, with some claiming to have heard the sound of grenades.

Police in riot gear move to clear civilian bystanders from the streets.

07.35am Witnesses describe hearing at least three more explosions likened to grenade blasts coming from the building.

Police officials say several officers have been injured, although their condition is unknown.

07.45am Security forces evacuate around 20 people living in the building at the centre of the stand-off.

It is not clear if children or the elderly are among those rescued. They are said to have been taken 200 yards to the City Hall for protection.

08.20am Police announce that two suspects – a man and a woman – were killed in the operation and two suspects detained, although it is not known if Abaaoud is among them, dead or alive.

Two police officers are said to have suffered injuries in the stand-off.

08.40am It emerges that one of the early explosions heard at the scene was from a woman detonating a suicide vest.

The number of injured police officers rises to four.

Bon c'est sur c'est une intervention de la police... rue barrée, officiers etc.. #SaintDenis pic.twitter.com/JSARgbaM9w

— Lunaticwolf 🇭🇹 (@Chelmih) November 18, 2015

09.00am Paris prosecutors announce that three suspects have been arrested in the raid and another man and woman are arrested nearby.

09.20am Police officials in Denmark announce that they have raised the country’s internal threat level to “significant elevated preparedness” in response to events in Paris and other European countries.

The country’s intelligence agency keeps its own assessment of the risk as “serious”.

Euh ouais ? #fusillade #SaintDenis pic.twitter.com/cdAzDDtu2R

— Morgane Duval (@Siamelfe) November 18, 2015

09.30am One suspect remains in the apartment at the centre of the five-hour siege. The number of arrests rises to five, including one woman.

10.00am French authorities confirm the death of a police dog in the operation.