(AFP) – French security authorities announced on Sunday that two additional arrests had been made in relation to an attempted detonation of a homemade explosive near a Bank of America branch in Paris.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez mentioned on Saturday that the conflict in the Middle East could have influenced the motivations behind this attack.
Police apprehended the first suspect, who might be a minor, shortly after they set up surveillance outside the bank close to the Champs-Elysées early Saturday.
This individual was with another person, who seemed to be recording the scene with a cellphone but fled when law enforcement arrived.
Authorities reported that the device included five liters of a liquid thought to be fuel, along with some ignition mechanism.
Two more suspects were taken into custody on Saturday night.
Sources in the police stated that the initial suspect mentioned being recruited via Snapchat for the bombing, allegedly for a reward of 600 euros (around $692).
Nuñez expressed uncertainty about the individuals behind the plot, yet suggested possible ties to Iran.
Law enforcement revealed that the arrested suspect claimed to be from Senegal and was a minor, and they were in the process of verifying his identity.
This event occurred more than a month after the United States and Israel targeted Iran, coinciding with ongoing discussions among significant regional players that began late Sunday.
The situation has turned into a wider regional conflict, with Iran conducting retaliatory strikes against Gulf nations, affecting energy markets and posing threats to the global economic landscape.
French officials noted that while France might not have been the direct target, U.S. and Israeli interests within the country could be at risk.
Nuñez urged security personnel to “exercise extreme caution” and to amplify their presence in crowded areas and transport hubs.
France’s anti-terror prosecutor initiated an inquiry into “attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means” following the incident.
The investigation involves both Paris judicial police and France’s domestic intelligence agency, the Directorate General for Internal Security (DGSI).
Bank of America, headquartered in North Carolina, is a major multinational investment bank and financial services firm.
