Police arrested a suspect at the scene in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the suspect caught in the act of placing or igniting an explosive device. The incident occurred around 3:30 am CET outside a Bank of America building on Rue de la Boétie in Paris's 8th arrondissement, near the Champs-Élysées. The explosive device was a homemade bomb containing fuel and an ignition system, according to multiple reports. Forensic experts said the device contained 650 grams of explosives, an unusually large quantity not previously encountered in France, capable of producing a large fireball and igniting a significant blaze. The device consisted of five litres of liquid, believed to be fuel, and an ignition system.
Four individuals, including three minors and one adult, have been arrested and are suspected of 'terrorist criminal conspiracy', with a fifth person released without charge. The adult suspect is previously convicted of drug trafficking, according to multiple reports. Two additional suspects have been arrested for the foiled bomb attack, bringing the total number of arrests to six, though the exact number remains unclear as investigations continue.
The minors were allegedly recruited by the adult last week to place and ignite the device and film the scene in exchange for money, prosecutors said. The minors were offered 500 to 1,000 euros for the bomb assignment, according to prosecutors. According to Aftonbladet, the suspect described receiving the bomb assignment via Snapchat for a payment of 600 euros, highlighting discrepancies in the reported payment amounts.
A propaganda video circulated on social media on March 23, before the planned attack, mentioned the U.S. bank's offices in Paris as a target, attributed to the pro-Iran group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, multiple reports indicate. The foiled attack in Paris appears 'likely linked' to the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group, though not formally established, according to the prosecutor's office. The Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Jewish community targets in the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands, according to multiple reports, suggesting a pattern of targeting Western interests.
The investigation has been taken over by France's counter-terrorism prosecutor's office, with Paris judicial police and DGSI involved, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Prosecutors requested the four suspects be placed in detention pending trial as a judicial investigation was opened. The judicial investigation was opened on charges including terrorist criminal conspiracy, building, possessing and transporting an explosive device, and attempted destruction as part of an organized group, according to multiple reports.
I received the bomb assignment via Snapchat for a payment of 600 euros.
The three minors have denied any terror-related intent, according to the prosecutor's office, creating contradictions in the case as authorities pursue terror charges.
France's interior minister Laurent Nuñez linked the thwarted attack to the war in the Middle East. French police have strengthened protection around religious and cultural sites, diplomatic premises, and important economic interests, according to an official source. The French government and security services believe France itself will not be directly targeted, but US and Israeli interests on French soil could be targeted due to escalations in the Middle East, multiple reports indicate, reflecting heightened vigilance.
Goldman Sachs placed its Paris offices under police surveillance on Thursday after US authorities warned of a threat from a pro-Iranian group planning to attack US bank buildings in Paris with explosive devices, according to multiple reports. Goldman Sachs authorized its Paris employees to work remotely, with a spokeswoman stating that employee safety is a priority, demonstrating the broader impact on financial institutions.
Police in Paris have banned an annual gathering for French Muslims in northern Paris, citing a high risk of terror. The gathering was to be a 40th anniversary event from 3 to 6 April, according to multiple reports. Police in Paris stated there could be a risk that 'minor extreme right groups' could cause trouble during the event, indicating security concerns extend beyond this specific incident.
In an unrelated incident, counterterrorism police in London announced three additional arrests Wednesday over an ambulance attack, with two men previously bailed, according to multiple reports, showing parallel security challenges in Europe.
Key unknowns persist, including the exact number of arrests, whether a formal connection between the attack and the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group has been established, what specific evidence links the attack to the war in the Middle East, whether there are ongoing threats to other US or Israeli interests in France, and the exact roles and motivations of each suspect, particularly the minors, in the alleged plot.