French police have arrested three individuals in connection with an attempted bomb attack outside a Bank of America building in central Paris early Saturday morning. Officers detained the initial suspect after he placed a homemade explosive device near the bank's entrance in the city’s 8th arrondissement, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
French authorities arrested three individuals following an attempted bomb attack outside a Bank of America branch in central Paris on Saturday. The suspect placed a homemade explosive device containing fuel and explosives near the bank's entrance around 3:25 AM local time.
- Three arrests made in connection with the attempted bombing
- Suspect reportedly recruited via Snapchat for €600
- Device contained five liters of liquid fuel and 650 grams of explosive powder
- Interior Minister suggests possible link to US-Israel conflict with Iran
The incident occurred around 3:25 AM local time (0125 GMT), with authorities describing the device as containing approximately five liters of liquid, believed to be fuel, and an ignition system holding about 650 grams of explosive powder. The suspect allegedly claimed he was recruited via the Snapchat app to carry out the bombing in exchange for 600 euros ($692). According to a police source, a man dropped him off at the scene in a car. When patrolling officers arrested him, he was about to ignite the device with a lighter.
The French counterterrorism prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident. Authorities are looking into potential charges related to 'attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking' and a 'terrorist criminal conspiracy.' France's interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, praised the police for their swift action.
The suspect was accompanied by a second man who fled as officers approached. Authorities are searching for this individual but have since arrested two more people in connection with the incident on Sunday. The initial suspect is reportedly a minor, and his custody has been extended under French law, which allows suspects in terrorism cases to be held for 96 hours.
Interior Minister Nuñez suggested the attempted attack could be linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, stating that Iranian services might carry out actions through proxies. However, this remains a suspicion pending further investigation. The Iranian embassy in France has not commented on these remarks.
The Bank of America confirmed it was aware of the situation. No injuries were reported at the scene. The investigation is being conducted by multiple agencies, including Paris judicial police and France’s domestic intelligence service.
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