French police thwarted an apparent bomb attack outside a US bank in Paris early on Saturday, arresting a man just as he was about to detonate a homemade explosive device, according to officials and sources familiar with the case.
The incident occurred at about 3:30am (0130 GMT) outside a Bank of America building in the affluent 8th arrondissement, a short distance from the Champs-Élysées.
Officers apprehended the suspect moments after he had placed a device consisting of approximately five litres of liquid, believed to be fuel, along with an ignition mechanism, one source disclosed.
The suspect, who reportedly claimed he had been recruited via social media, was accompanied by another individual who fled as police moved in to make the arrest.
Preliminary findings indicated that the ignition component contained 650 grams of explosive powder. The device has since been transferred to a police forensic laboratory for detailed examination.
France’s counter-terrorism prosecutor’s office confirmed it had taken over the investigation immediately and that the arrested individual remains in custody.
It stated that inquiries were underway into “attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking” as well as a “terrorist criminal conspiracy”.
The Paris judicial police and the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) are jointly handling the investigation.
According to a police source, the suspect alleged he had been recruited through the Snapchat application and promised 600 euros ($692) to carry out the attack.
The same source said he had been transported to the location by an accomplice, who dropped him off by car before fleeing the scene.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was reportedly preparing to ignite the device using a lighter.
A spokesperson for Bank of America, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, said the organisation was aware of the incident and was liaising with French authorities.
France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, praised the swift intervention of the police, citing “the current international situation”.
Amid ongoing tensions linked to the conflict in the Middle East, European nations remain on heightened alert for potential attacks targeting Iranian dissidents, Jewish sites of worship, and US-Israeli interests.
Nunez added that vigilance in France “remains more than ever at a high level.”