French says attack 'mastermind' was killed

PARIS (AP) - She told reporters on Thursday: "This is an attack on our basic values, on our way of life, on freedom... and all of the freedom-loving countries on earth must stand together in all areas to find the perpetrators and also to protect and secure our way of life."

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The French military says it has destroyed 35 Islamic State targets in Syria since last week's attacks on Paris.

He told reporters the strikes were aimed at weakening and disorganizing IS.

The Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier left Wednesday for the eastern Mediterranean, tripling France's airborne forces in the fight against Islamic State.

12:10 p.m.

Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told RAI state broadcaster on Thursday that Italian law enforcement had been searching for the five people since Wednesday afternoon.

Gentiloni adds that the U.S. alert didn't warn people to stay away from Italy. He said: "We cannot be prisoners of worry."

Danish and Norwegian police have been asked to be on the lookout for a man that Swedish authorities say is wanted in connection with an investigation into "preparation for a terrorist offense."

SAPO said the request was not linked to the Paris attacks.

On Wednesday, SAPO raised the country's terror alert to the second-highest level.

12:05 p.m.

Europol Director Rob Wainwright says that 2,000 of those names have been positively confirmed as foreign fighters. The rest are currently considered suspects, associates or facilitators.

Speaking Thursday in the European Parliament, Wainwright said that Europol's major priority in recent years in fighting terror has been to "motivate the national authorities to share their counterterrorist data."

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Turkey's president says the attacks in Paris are spurring hatred against Muslims and refugees in Europe and is urging leaders to call for "common sense" in their countries.

Erdogan said: "If we do not thwart racist attacks and fanatical movements, new and dangerous tragedies will become inevitable. Racism united with hatred of Islam is the greatest calamity and danger."

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The director of the European Union's police coordination organization is warning that the Paris attacks are "a very serious escalation" of the terror threat in Europe and a statement of intent by the Islamic State group.

He says Paris was the first time Europe has witnessed an attack similar to a 2008 assault by militants in the Indian city of Mumbai, combining indiscriminate shooting with suicide bombers.

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The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama still plans to travel to Paris for the upcoming climate talks.

He says the U.S. has been actively sharing intelligence with France since the attacks last week.

Obama is currently scheduled to be in Paris on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. It's unclear whether the dates will be extended or adjusted in light of the attacks.

10:05 a.m.

Speaking Thursday morning on Germany's ARD television ahead of meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Faymann said to close the borders "would be the end of Schengen and the European idea," referring to the so-called Schengen Zone of passport-free travel.

He says "we cannot solve the problem at either the Austrian or the German borders."

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The French Interior Ministry and Paris prosecutor's office say it remains unclear whether the suspected mastermind of last week's Paris attacks has been killed or is still at large.

Police launched the operation after receiving information from tapped phone calls, surveillance and tipoffs suggesting that Abaaoud was holed up there.

-By Angela Charlton

9:55 a.m.

Valls presented a bill extending the state of emergency declared after Friday's attacks for another three months to the lower house of Parliament on Thursday. It goes to the upper house Friday.

He added, "we know that there could also be a risk of chemical or biological weapons."

9:45 a.m.

An official in the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said that the raids were taking place in Molenbeek and other areas of Brussels.

Bilal Hadfi has been identified as one of three attackers at the Stade de France stadium. The raids are centering on "his entourage," the official said.

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Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel says he wants to amend the constitution to extend the length of time terror suspects can be held by police without charge.

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Belgian Prime minister Charles Michel has announced a package of additional anti-terror measures in the wake of the attacks in Paris.

He told legislators in a special announcement that personnel involved in security would be increased, and said special attention would be paid to eradicating messages of hate.

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A Turkish government official says authorities have deported some among a group of eight Moroccan nationals who were detained at Istanbul's main airport, while others are still being investigated.

The official said in an email sent late Wednesday that authorities have not been able to confirm that the group was attempting to travel to Germany illegally by posing as refugees, as suggested by Turkish media.

- By Suzan Fraser in Ankara

8:55 a.m.

Fabius, speaking on France-Inter radio Thursday, said the group "is a monster. But if all the countries in the world aren't capable of fighting against 30,000 people (IS members), it's incomprehensible."

France has stepped up its airstrikes against extremists in Syria since the attack, and French President Francois Hollande is going to Washington and Moscow next week to push for a stronger international coalition against IS.