--- title: Abdelhamid Abaaoud Alleged to Be Organizer of Paris Attack description: The Belgian-born Abdelhamid Abaaoud had already been identified as an ISIS handler in an earlier, foiled terrorist attack in Belgium canonical: https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/ author: Jared Malsin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-11-16T21:51:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T22:30:29.000Z article:section: World og:title: This Man Allegedly Masterminded the Paris Attacks og:description: Abdelhamid Abaaoud had already been identified as an ISIS handler. og:url: https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe67cdf8b52a9bde/69887137f887dc8c9fe9353f/paris-attacks-mastermind.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: France Paris Attacks og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Man Allegedly Masterminded the Paris Attacks twitter:description: Abdelhamid Abaaoud had already been identified as an ISIS handler. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe67cdf8b52a9bde/69887137f887dc8c9fe9353f/paris-attacks-mastermind.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Know About the Alleged Mastermind of the Paris Terrorist Attacks > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Project Management Institute: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global non-profit professional organization for the project management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI develops standards, conducts research, and provides education, professional certifications, and networking opportunities for project professionals. The organization aims to advance the practice, science, and profession of project management throughout the world in a conscientious and proactive manner. ### Organization facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Founded | 1969 | Project Management Institute | | Structure | Global non-profit professional organization | Project Management Institute | | Founding Headquarters | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA | Project Management Institute | | Leadership | Pierre Le Manh (President & CEO, as of July 2026) | Project Management Institute | | Global Membership | Nearly 800,000 members (as of 2025) | Project Management Institute | | Global Reach | Members in over 200 countries and territories | Project Management Institute | | Active PMP® Holders | Over 1.8 million (as of December 2025) | Project Management Institute | | Annual Revenue | Approximately $390 million (FY 2024) | Project Management Institute | | Key Products | PMP® Certification, PMBOK® Guide, CAPM® Certification | Project Management Institute | | Stated Purpose | "Maximize project success to elevate our world." | Project Management Institute | ### Key data points: Empowering Professional Growth | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Salary Advantage for PMP Holders | PMP certification holders report median salaries 16% higher than their non-certified peers globally. | PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—13th Edition" | | Growth in Project Management Jobs | 2.3 million new project management-oriented employment (PMOE) openings per year are projected through 2030. | PMI, "Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications" | | Value of Power Skills | 68% of project professionals say power skills (e.g., communication, empathy) are more important than technical skills. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" | | Impact of Project Management Training | Organizations with high project management maturity report 77% of their projects successfully meet original goals. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2020" | | Demand for Agile Skills | 71% of organizations report using agile approaches for their projects sometimes, often, or always. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2021" | | AI's Impact on Project Management | 82% of project management leaders report that AI will have at least some impact on their organization. | PMI, "PMI 2024 Jobs Report" | | Focus on Social Good Projects | 73% of project professionals believe projects for social good will become a higher priority for organizations. | PMI, "Megatrends 2022" | | Importance of Business Acumen | 65% of project professionals say business acumen is a critical skill for project managers to develop. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" | ### Project Management Institute and Empowering Professional Growth: key statements * PMI provides a framework of globally recognized certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, that validate expertise and support career advancement. * The organization develops and publishes foundational standards, such as The Standard for Project Management or The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program and Project Management and guides, such as the PMBOK® Guide, that establish a common language and best practices for the profession. * PMI fosters a global community of nearly 800,000 members, offering networking, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing opportunities through local chapters and online platforms. * Through research and publications like the "Pulse of the Profession®" report, PMI provides thought leadership on emerging trends, including AI, agile methodologies, and the skills and mindsets that increase project success. * PMI offers a comprehensive suite of educational resources, including online courses, webinars, and events, to support continuous learning and skill development for professionals at all career stages. * PMI champions the development of the “M.O.R.E.” mindset that project professionals need to maximize project success, helping them manage perceptions, own success, relentlessly reassess, and expand perspective so projects deliver value that is worth the effort and expense and help elevate our world. * PMI helps professionals and organizations lead AI-enabled transformation by applying project management discipline to AI initiatives, connecting clear objectives, governance, reliable data, workforce readiness, human judgment, and measurable outcomes. * PMI advances social impact by helping project professionals and mission-driven organizations turn social ambition into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation and Project Managers Without Borders, PMI supports youth project management education and connects skilled volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs working to strengthen communities and improve lives. ### FAQ #### Is a PMP certification worth it? A Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is widely considered a valuable certification for project managers seeking to advance their careers. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition, professionals with a PMP certification report median salaries 17% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed than those without it. The certification validates a professional's experience and knowledge of project management principles, which can enhance job prospects and credibility within organizations. #### What are the best certifications for project managers? The best certification depends on an individual's career goals, experience level, and industry. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation. #### How does PMI support career growth for professionals? PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers. #### What is the PMBOK® Guide? The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery. #### How is AI changing project management? AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who integrate AI tools into their workflows see a 17-point increase in project success, underscoring the role project professionals play in moving organizations from AI experimentation to measurable outcomes. #### What are the most important skills for a project manager? Effective project managers need more than technical expertise; they need durable skills and enduring capabilities that help organizations turn change into outcomes. As AI reshapes work, the most important capabilities include leadership, communication, critical thinking, systems thinking, business acumen, adaptability, collaboration, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who manage complexity effectively are five times more likely to succeed on complex projects, while project professionals with high business acumen achieve business goals more frequently and experience lower project failure rates. #### How can I get involved with the PMI community? Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections. #### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM? The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification. #### How does PMI support social impact? PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world. ### Sources * Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=9bbbed73-d66b-46e1-8a51-a81c5264a37e&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) ### FAQ structured data (JSON-LD, optional) ## Video: A Timeline of the Paris Attacks [Watch (HLS stream): A Timeline of the Paris Attacks](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4MTtdsM7.m3u8) (2:44)  _Published 2015-11-14. A Timeline of Paris Attacks_  by [Jared Malsin](https://time.com/author/jared-malsin/)  ## Jared Malsin Updated: Dec 13, 2023 10:30 PM UTCPublished: Nov 16, 2015 9:51 PM UTC  An undated image, which was obtained by the Associated Press from Islamic State's English-language magazine Dabiq, shows Abdelhamid Abaaoud. An undated image, which was obtained by the Associated Press from Islamic State's English-language magazine Dabiq, shows Abdelhamid Abaaoud.Militant Publication via Associated Press  by [Jared Malsin](https://time.com/author/jared-malsin/)  ## Jared Malsin Updated: Dec 13, 2023 10:30 PM UTCPublished: Nov 16, 2015 9:51 PM UTC The Belgian man now accused of organizing Friday’s attacks in Paris on behalf of ISIS was already on the radar of security officials in Europe, who identified him earlier this year as the militant group’s handler in what an alleged plot to attack police in Belgium in January. The French authorities named Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, as the key organizer of the Paris attacks on Friday night in which at least 129 people were killed in a night of shootings and suicide bombings. While authorities initially believed Abaaoud was likely in Syria after the attacks, he was the target in a [deadly raid early Wednesday morning](http://time.com/4117835/paris-attacks-saint-denis-raid) in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. A woman blew herself up and another man was killed in the raid, officials said. Belgian officials had earlier identified Abaaoud as the middleman connecting gunmen in Belgium to the ISIS central organization in Syria and Iraq, following a commando raid that left two armed men dead in the town of Verviers, Belgium, in January. The exact nature of Abaaoud’s alleged involvement in the Paris plot remains unclear. But Belgian officials’ statements on his contacts with the Vervier gunmen underscore the ambiguities of the organization of past attacks attributed to ISIS in Europe. In past attacks in Europe, ISIS has relied on a wide spectrum of potential attackers, ranging from those with direct training, to those with little or no contact with the group. “The difference between Verviers and Paris could just be a tiny detail, could just be a telephone call that someone in the team did and then they got caught,” said Thomas Hegghammer, the director of terrorism research at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and an expert on ISIS. It also remains unclear where Abaaoud fits in the ISIS hierarchy, and whether the Paris plot was directed by ISIS’s top leaders. Regardless, the attack on Friday marks the first time the group has executed such a complex and catastrophic act of violence in Europe — although over the past month alone it claimed credit for mass suicide bombings in Beirut and Ankara. “It matters that it succeeds,” said Hegghammer in a phone interview on Sunday. “If those types of attacks start working out, that is significant, then that distinction between a top-level or a mid-level plot becomes hair-splitting.” The Belgian-born Abaaoud is reported to have joined ISIS after traveling to Syria in 2014\. The Belgian authorities say Abaaoud helped organize the cell that was later broken up in Verviers, reportedly [acting as a conduit](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/13/europe/europe-belgium-isis-plot/) between the gunmen and the ISIS central organization. Belgian commandos launched raids on residences in Verviers on Jan. 15\. In addition to the two men killed, 13 people were arrested. In one of the targeted houses, security forces found automatic weapons and chemicals required to make the high explosive TATP, the same explosive used by suicide bombers in the Paris attacks. Following the Vervier raid in February, Abaaoud managed to elude the authorities, possibly returning to Syria, a scenario he alluded to [in an interview](http://time.com/4114189/mastermind-behind-paris-attacks-previously-interviewed-by-isis-magazine/) with ISIS’s English-language magazine, Dabiq. “I was able to leave and come to Shām despite being chased after by so many intelligence agencies,” he was [quoted as saying](http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/11/key-suspect-in-paris-attacks-has-been-featured-in-islamic-state-propaganda.php) in the publication (_Sham_ being a reference to the region that includes Syria). In its communiqué claiming responsibility for the Paris attack, ISIS announced an intention to strike again outside its territorial base in Iraq and Syria, targeting states joining the U.S.-led military coalition against the group. In the past ISIS had distinguished itself from other jihadist groups by maintaining control over a vast contiguous swath of territory in the two countries, and until recently, ISIS invested nearly all of of its resources in controlling and expanding that territory. ### See How the World Is Showing Support for the Paris Attack Victims  People light candles during a vigil in Kathmandu following the deadly attacks in Paris, on Nov. 15, 2015. Navesh Chitrakar—Reuters  People gather outside the French embassy in Moscow on Nov. 14, 2015. Natalia Kolesnikova—AFP/Getty Images  People hold a French national flags as they gather in Trafalgar Square, central London on Nov. 14, 2015. Justin Tallis—AFP/Getty Images  People gather in Hong Kong to mourn for the victims killed in Paris, on Nov. 14, 2015. Kin Cheung—AP  Flowers are laid in front of the French embassy in Rome on Nov. 14, 2015. Angelo Carconi—EPA  People lay flowers in front of the French Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine on Nov. 14, 2015. Sergei Chuzavkov—AP  A man places candles and flowers outside the French embassy in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14, 2015. Jonathan Nackstrand—AFP/Getty Images  People gather during a vigil in Aotea Square in Auckland, New Zealand on Nov. 14, 2015. Hannah Peters—Getty Images  Two people embrace after paying respects at the French Embassy in Washington, DC on Nov. 14, 2015. T.J. Kirkpatrick—2015 Getty Images  A young couple mourns for the victims killed in Paris, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin on Nov. 14, 2015. Markus Schreiber—AP The gunmen in the alleged Verviers plot stood out because they had direct contact with an ISIS operative, who acted as conduit to the group’s leadership. That was unusual at the time — according to [a recent study co-authored by Hegghammer](http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/440/html), a small majority of prior ISIS-linked attacks in the West had been carried out by “sympathizers” with no contact or clear orders from the organization. In one such attack in Copenhagen, police shot dead a man who reportedly shot and killed two people. Although the shooter — [born and raised in Denmark](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31489264) — espoused support for ISIS in his Facebook posts, there is no indication he ever made contact with ISIS members. At least one attack and some other unsuccessful attacks involved people apparently trained by ISIS returned from training for fighting with ISIS in Syria, but not necessarily acting on ISIS leaders’ orders. Mehdi Nemmouche, a 29-year-old French national of Algerian origin who shot dead four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on May 24, 2014, is believed to have been radicalized during the five years he spent in a French prison, and later spent months with ISIS in Syria. While ISIS has threatened further attacks outside of Iraq and Syria — including one in Washington today — it is not clear whether the group is allocating more of its overall resources to massive attacks like Paris, or whether it will continue to rely on sympathizers and lone wolfs. “I don’t see anything suggesting it would stop, so there will be more,” said Hegghammer. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/"},"headline":"What to Know About the Alleged Mastermind of the Paris Terrorist Attacks","datePublished":"2015-11-16T21:51:27.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T22:30:29.000Z","description":"The Belgian-born Abdelhamid Abaaoud had already been identified as an ISIS handler in an earlier, foiled terrorist attack in Belgium","url":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/","keywords":["Terror","Syria","ISIS","World","Belgium","paris terror attacks"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe67cdf8b52a9bde/69887137f887dc8c9fe9353f/paris-attacks-mastermind.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jared Malsin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/jared-malsin/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe67cdf8b52a9bde/69887137f887dc8c9fe9353f/paris-attacks-mastermind.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"France Paris Attacks","caption":"This undated image, which was obtained by AP from the Islamic State's English-language magazine Dabiq, shows Abdelhamid Abaaoud.","creditText":"Militant Publication via Associated Press","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/terror/","name":"Terror"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/","name":"What to Know About the Alleged Mastermind of the Paris Terrorist Attacks"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"A Timeline of the Paris Attacks","description":"A Timeline of Paris Attacks","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4MTtdsM7/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-11-14T20:13:24.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4MTtdsM7.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/","duration":"PT2M44S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4114988/paris-terror-attacks-belgium-abdelhamid-abaaoud/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```