French authorities arrested three individuals after a foiled bomb attempt outside the Bank of America in Paris, with one suspect being a minor.
Three people have been arrested in connection with a suspected bomb attack outside the Bank of America's headquarters in Paris, as stated by France's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office. The incident occurred at about 03:30 local time on Saturday in the city's 8th arrondissement, near the Champs-Élysées, where a device containing five liters of liquid, believed to be fuel, and an ignition system was placed.
Details of the Attack and Initial Response
The first suspect was detained at the scene after placing the device, while a second person fled after appearing to take photos and videos with a mobile phone, according to a police source reported by AFP. On Sunday, two additional individuals were taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation, with the first suspect, who is a minor, having their custody extended under French law.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez commented that the attempted attack might be linked to the US-Israel conflict involving Iran, stating, 'In this type of conflict, you have a number of Iranian services that are likely to carry out actions such as these through proxies.' He emphasized that it is for the investigation to confirm any connections.
The Iranian embassy in France has not issued any response to Nuñez's remarks. Under French law, suspects in terrorism cases can be held for up to 96 hours, with possible extensions by a court, as noted in the prosecutor's statement.
Nuñez also mentioned that similar attacks have been foiled in other European countries, including France, the Netherlands, Britain, and Norway. He urged security services to increase vigilance and presence at transport hubs and other key locations across France.
The investigation, led by the Paris judicial police and France's domestic intelligence service, focuses on charges of attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking and a terrorist criminal conspiracy. This case highlights ongoing security concerns in Europe amid global tensions.
