French police foiled an apparent terrorist attack in central Paris early on Saturday, arresting a suspect moments before he could ignite a homemade explosive device outside a U.S. bank.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. in the 8th arrondissement, just streets away from the Champs-Élysées, in front of a Bank of America building.
According to sources close to the investigation, officers intervened just after the suspect placed a device consisting of approximately five litres of flammable liquid and an ignition mechanism. He was reportedly preparing to light the device with a lighter when police moved in.
An initial assessment found that the ignition component contained around 650 grams of explosive powder. The device has since been transferred to a police forensics laboratory for further analysis.
Following his arrest, the suspect claimed to be a minor and a Senegalese national, although authorities are still working to verify his identity.
A second individual who had accompanied him fled the scene as police approached and remains at large.
France’s counter-terrorism prosecutor’s office confirmed it had taken over the case, opening an investigation into “attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking” and “terrorist criminal conspiracy.” The Paris judicial police and the domestic intelligence agency DGSI are both involved in the inquiry.
A police source said the suspect told investigators he had been recruited via the Snapchat app and promised €600 to carry out the हमला. A second source indicated that the accomplice appeared to be filming or photographing the scene as the device was being placed.
Bank of America said it was aware of the incident and is in contact with French authorities.
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez praised the swift response of officers, citing “the current international situation” as a factor in heightened vigilance. Speaking to BFMTV, he suggested a possible link between the attempted attack and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
European authorities have reported a series of similar incidents in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Dutch officials said four youths suspected of targeting a synagogue in Rotterdam may have been recruited by Iran. In the UK, a little-known group aligned with Tehran claimed responsibility for an arson attack on volunteer ambulances operated by a Jewish organisation.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, security services across Europe have remained on high alert for attacks targeting U.S., Israeli, and Jewish-linked sites.
