France: Two new arrests over foiled Bank of America attack
France: Two New Arrests in Foiled Bank of America Attack
French authorities have detained two additional individuals linked to a thwarted bombing attempt at the Paris branch of Bank of America. The first suspect’s detention was extended, according to prosecutors. The arrests were announced on Sunday, following an earlier operation that captured one person after an attempted explosion near the bank’s premises.
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. local time, just a few blocks from the Champs-Elysees, according to AFP. Police reported spotting two men near the building, one of whom had placed a device containing an ignition system and a container suspected to hold fuel. Before lighting the device, he was stopped by officers. His accomplice fled the scene.
Authorities recovered approximately 650 grams of explosive powder from the device, which is now being analyzed in a forensic lab. The PNAT, France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office, confirmed an investigation into alleged terrorism-related offenses. These include acts of arson, explosive device manufacturing, and possession of such devices with intent to cause harm.
“The swift action of the Paris police prefecture unit prevented a terrorist attack overnight in Paris,” said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez in a statement. “Vigilance remains extremely high,” he added, praising the security forces for their readiness amid ongoing international tensions.
A police source told AFP that the first suspect was recruited through Snapchat to carry out the attack in exchange for €600. Bank of America’s spokesperson confirmed awareness of the situation and ongoing communication with French officials. Security measures around US-related institutions and Jewish community sites have been intensified since last month’s US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Protective protocols for certain Iranian opposition figures in exile have also been expanded. To view related video content, JavaScript must be enabled, and a modern web browser supporting HTML5 video is recommended.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic and Natalie Muller