French President Francois Hollande addressing an assembly of mayors in Paris says the purpose of the raid on Saint Denis was "to neutralise terrorists who had links to the perpetrators of Friday's hideous crimes".


He said police endured "terrifying conditions" to carry out the raid. The president repeated his earlier message that France was at war against Islamic State militants.


President Hollande also praised the residents of Saint Denis for their courage and calmness during the police operation.


It is is still not clear whether Islamic State militant Abdelhamid Abaaoud has been arrested or killed in the Saint Denis operation.


"It is impossible to tell you who was arrested. We are in the process of verifying that. Everything will be done to determine who is who," Paris prosecutor Francois Molins says.


Hollande quashed suggestions of a link between the refugee crisis and Fridays attacks, announcing that France will accept 30,000 refugees in the next two years.