Syrian and Egyptian passports were found near the bodies of two of the perpetrators at two attack sites , but Egyptian authorities said the passport belonged to a victim , Aleed Abdel-Razzak , and not one of the perpetrators . By 16 November , the focus of the French and Belgian investigation turned to Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the radical jihadist they believed was the leader of the plot . Abaaoud had escaped to Syria after having been suspected in other plots in Belgium and France , including the thwarted 2015 Thalys train attack . Abaaoud had recruited an extensive network of accomplices , including two brothers , Brahim Abdeslam and Salah Abdeslam , to execute terrorist attacks ; Abaaoud was killed in the Saint-Denis raid on 18 November
2015 Thalys train attack
2015 Thalys train attack
November 2015 Paris attacks