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ISIS-linked social media posts 'warned of Paris attacks 72 hours earlier'

Warnings of the Paris attacks were posted 72 hours before the bloodshed on four ISIS-linked social media accounts, say reports.

The messages included images of weapons, the Eiffel tower, as well as blessings for the attackers’ mission and are being called ‘missed warnings.’

Tragic scenes. One of the many who laid deceased on the streets of Paris. Source: Supplied.
Tragic scenes. One of the many who laid deceased on the streets of Paris. Source: Supplied.

The translations state “God bless you in your mission” and “Support the deployment,” as well as a reference to our “sister,” suggesting an operative, or member of the support team was a woman.

A photo released by French Police of 26-year old Salah Abdeslam. Source: Supplied.
A photo released by French Police of 26-year old Salah Abdeslam. Source: Supplied.

FBI sources told Fox News they are monitoring a constant stream of ISIS chatter online.

A confidential military intelligence source says the social media traffic is now seen as evidence the three teams had gone operational according to Fox News reports.

Meanwhile, it has been reported by AP senior Iraqi intelligence officials warned coalition countries of imminent assaults by the Islamic State group just one day before the Paris attacks.

Iraqi intelligence sent a dispatch saying the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had ordered an attack on coalition countries fighting against them in Iraq and Syria, as well as on Iran and Russia, “through bombings or assassinations or hostage taking in the coming days.”

French fighter jets have carried out a series of 'massive' air strikes on Raqqa. Source: Supplied.
French fighter jets have carried out a series of 'massive' air strikes on Raqqa. Source: Supplied.

The dispatch said the Iraqis had no specific details on when or where the attack would take place, and a senior French security official told the AP that French intelligence gets this kind of communication “all the time” and “every day.”

PARIS ATTACKS: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

- Death toll now stands at 132
- 89 people were killed at Bataclan theatre
- As many as 352 were wounded, many in critical condition
- Six coordinated gun and bomb attacks
- Three teams of terrorists
- French national named Ismaël Omar Mostefaï as one attackers
- Father and brother arrested
- Europe-wide manhunt underway for Abdeslam Salah
- Hundreds of mourners flee Place de la Republique on false alarm.

However, six senior Iraqi officials corroborated the information in the dispatch, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, and four of these intelligence officials said they also warned France specifically of a potential attack.

Scenes from earlier today when panic once again crowded the city. Source: Supplied.
Scenes from earlier today when panic once again crowded the city. Source: Supplied.


Two officials told Associated Press that France was warned beforehand of details that French authorities have yet to make public.

"We have recovered information from our direct sources in the Islamic State terrorist organization about the orders issued by terrorist 'Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi' directing all members of the organization to implement an international attack that includes all coalition countries, in addition to Iran and the Russian Federation, through bombings or assassinations or hostage taking in the coming days. We do not have information on the date and place for implementing these terrorist operations at this time," the Iraqi dispatch read in part.

Ahmed Almuhamed is a known attacker who may have posed as an asylum seeker. Photo: Supplied
Ahmed Almuhamed is a known attacker who may have posed as an asylum seeker. Photo: Supplied

Among the other warnings cited by Iraqi officials: that the Paris attacks appear to have been planned in Raqqa, Syria — the Islamic State's de-facto capital — where the attackers were trained specifically for this operation and with the intention of sending them to France.