DNA samples to be examined to see if Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed yesterday

Authorities in Belgium are to release DNA samples to see if the suspected mastermind of the Paris terror attacks was killed yesterday.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud was not among eight people arrested during a police operation in Saint Denis.

More than 100 heavily-armed officers stormed the apartment early yesterday in search of Abaaoud, who had previously been thought to be in Syria.

French prosecutor Francois Molins has said a "terrorist threat" was stopped yesterday: “The new terrorist cell was neutralised,

“And seeing their weapons and their organisation and determination, this commando could have acted.”