Get you up to speed: French police arrest terror suspect attempting bomb attack outside US bank
French police arrested a male suspect attempting to detonate a bomb outside a Bank of America building in the 8th arrondissement of Paris early on March 28, 2026. Officers seized a five-litre container filled with an unidentified liquid and a 650-gram explosive charge shortly after they were called to the scene around 1.30 am local time.
French police arrested a male suspect trying to detonate a bomb outside a Bank of America branch in Paris early on March 28, 2026, reportedly after being recruited via Snapchat for £520 to carry out the attack. Following the incident, France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez commended the officers’ ‘rapid intervention’ that averted the violent act, with the investigation subsequently handed over to the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
The investigation into the attempted bombing outside the Bank of America in Paris has been taken over by the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office. Following the incident, France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, commended the rapid intervention of police officers that prevented a violent terrorist action.
Paris foils ‘terror attack by man with bomb’ targeting Bank of America | News World
The suspect was detained while allegedly trying to ignite the bomb outside a branch of the Bank of America in central Paris (Picture: Sebastien Dupuy/AFP via Getty Images)
A terror suspect has been detained after police caught him allegedly trying to detonate a bomb outside an American bank in Paris.
The male suspect reportedly tried to ignite a five-litre container filled with an unidentified liquid in the early hours of this morning.
Police later seized it along with a 650-gram explosive charge after officers were called to the Bank of America branch in the 8th Arrondissement at around 1.30am local time.
The bank is located in central Paris, a couple of streets from the French capital’s iconic Champs-Élysées.
The suspect was with another person at the time, according to French media.
They reportedly fled the scene and have yet to be traced.
Upon arrival, officers rapidly approached the man and detained him before he could detonate the bomb, according to reports.
During questioning, he claimed to have been recruited through social media site Snapchat, where he was offered £520 (€600) to detonate the device.
He also claimed to have been dropped off outside the bank in a car.
Reacting to the news, France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez praised the ‘rapid intervention’ of the responding officers.
‘Well done to the rapid intervention of a police prefecture crew which made it possible to thwart a violent terrorist action last night in Paris,’ she said.
Ms Nuñez explained the investigation had since been taken over by the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
The alleged attack comes after several incidents across Europe amid heightened tensions over the ongoing turmoil in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Other incidents include an explosion outside a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège earlier this month.
It was followed days later by an arson attack on a synagogue in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
Last week, four ambulances that belonged to a Jewish charity in Golders Green, North London, were destroyed by arsonists.
The Metropolitan Police have since arrested and bailed two men in connection with the attack, which the force is treating as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
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