French police prevented a suspected bomb attack outside a Bank of America building in central Paris on Saturday, arresting a man moments before he could detonate a homemade explosive device, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 3:30am local time in the city's 8th arrondissement, just streets away from the Champs-Élysées. According to sources close to the case, the suspect had placed a device containing five litres of liquid, believed to be fuel, along with an ignition system.
The ignition component contained 650g of explosive powder, initial assessments revealed. The device was taken to a police forensics lab for full analysis. France's counterterrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation, with the Paris judicial police and domestic intelligence service also involved.
The investigation is examining charges of attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking, as well as terrorist criminal conspiracy. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised officers' swift action, citing heightened security concerns due to the war in the Middle East, and stated that vigilance in France remains at a high level.
