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Anti-terrorism investigations are ongoingPolice prevent attack in Paris
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. in the 8th arrondissement in the center of the city.
picture alliance/dpa/AFP / Sebastien Dupuy
An attack on a Bank of America headquarters was prevented in Paris. The police were able to arrest a suspect. There is suspicion of terrorism.
French police have thwarted a bomb attack on the Paris branch of the major US bank Bank of America. According to investigators, a suspect was caught when he set off an explosive device in front of the building in the center of the French capital on Saturday night. The anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office took over the investigation. Investigators said it was likely that there was a connection with Iranian threats against Israeli and US companies in Europe because of the Iran war.
The homemade explosive device consisted of a five-liter canister presumably filled with fuel and a firecracker as a detonator. According to the investigating authorities, during an interrogation the arrested man said that he had been recruited via the online service Snapchat to carry out the attack in exchange for payment of 600 euros.
While the suspect placed the explosive device, a companion took a few steps back, apparently to photograph or film the attack. The suspect was caught by a police patrol when he tried to detonate the explosive device with a lighter. His alleged accomplice managed to escape.
The attempted attack was “the concretization of Iranian threats against American and Israeli interests throughout Europe,” according to investigators. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke of a “terrorist act of violence” and emphasized that, given the “international context,” the security authorities were on increased alert.
Since the start of the Iran war a month ago, authorities in numerous European countries have increased protection for Iranian opposition figures, Jewish institutions and Israeli and US missions and companies.
Sources used: raf/AFP
