French police have thwarted a suspected bomb attack outside a Bank of America branch in Paris, arresting a man believed to have been preparing to detonate a homemade explosive device.
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. local time in the city’s 8th arrondissement, close to the Champs-Élysées.
Sources familiar with the investigation said officers moved in shortly after the suspect placed a device made from a container filled with a liquid suspected to be fuel, along with an ignition mechanism.
France’s counter-terrorism prosecutor confirmed the arrest, stating that the case is being treated as attempted destruction using dangerous means linked to a terrorist plot, as well as participation in a terrorist criminal conspiracy.
The probe is being handled jointly by the Paris judicial police and the General Directorate for Internal Security. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez commended the swift intervention by security operatives.
He praised the rapid response team for preventing what could have been a violent attack in the capital, adding that security forces remain on high alert amid the current international climate.
Authorities said the suspect was apprehended at the scene, while a second individual reportedly escaped and is still being sought. The device has been secured and handed over to forensic experts for further examination as investigations continue.
