Diesel the French police dog was killed in a shootout during an operation to capture Abdel-Hamid Abu Oud, the suspected mastermind of last week's Paris terror attacks.

The Guardian reports the French national police confirmed the death of its Research, Assistance, Intervention and Deterrence (RAID) unit's seven-year-old Malinois (a.k.a. Belgian shepherd), who was shot dead at an apartment in St Denis where the terrorists were allegedly hiding.

"Assault and explosives search dogs: indispensable in the missions of the operators of the #RAID," the National Police tweeted with a picture of a Malinois standing in line with officers.

The picture shown, however, was not Diesel since his master was too saddened to allow the release of the dog's picture.

The announcement of the hero dog's passing received thousands of responses on Twitter, followed by the trending of hashtags #JeSuisChien or #IAmDog hours later. Twitter users then posted pictures of their own heroic canines as tribute to Diesel's courage.

Diesel was sent into the apartment ahead of police officers to measure the danger of the situation when it was hit by bullets.

The raid that started at 3:25 GMT injured five police officers as witnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire, large explosions and grenades coming from the apartment building.

New Europe reports government spokesperson Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed 7 were arrested and 3 suspects were dead --- including one woman who blew herself up by setting off an explosive belt.

According to sources who spoke to Reuters, the arrested suspects were planning to attack the 'La Défense' business district of Paris.

The raid was part of an on-going operation carried out by hundreds of French security officers after the simultaneous deadly attacks that killed 129 people at different venues in Paris on Friday.

The Islamic State group claimed full responsibility of the killings.