Overview
French anti-terrorism authorities announced on March 29 that two additional individuals were placed in police custody as part of an ongoing inquiry into a foiled attack targeting Bank of America’s Paris offices. The arrests were made in connection with an investigation that was formally opened on March 28, 2026, the prosecutor’s office said.
Arrests and legal timeframes
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the two people were taken into custody "last night" under the investigation into offences committed against Bank of America. The custody of the first person arrested on Saturday, who is a minor, has also been extended. Under French counter-terrorism law, suspects in terrorism cases may be held in custody for up to 96 hours, with the possibility of further extensions subject to judicial oversight.
Charges under investigation
Authorities have opened an inquiry that includes attempted destruction by fire or other dangerous means, and offences concerning the manufacture, possession and transport of an explosive or incendiary device. The probe has been assigned to the Paris police judicial unit and France’s domestic intelligence agency.
Police intervention and scene description
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police acted in the early hours of Saturday in Paris’ 8th arrondissement after a patrol tasked with protecting sensitive sites observed two people placing and attempting to ignite an improvised explosive device outside the bank. Officers who intervened arrested one suspect at the scene while another reportedly fled.
According to Nunez, one individual was attempting to light an improvised device composed of a container likely holding hydrocarbons and a crude ignition system, while a second person was recording the scene. The minister said the rudimentary device could have been lethal and that police prevented it from being ignited.
Possible external links and investigative stance
When asked about potential sponsors for the attack, Nunez referenced suspicions involving Iran but cautioned that investigators have not reached a definitive conclusion. He described a pattern in which certain services allegedly employ proxies to carry out such actions, saying there is "a significant suspicion, but it is for the investigation to determine." The Iranian embassy in France declined to comment on the minister’s remarks.
Modus operandi and regional context identified by authorities
Nunez characterised the individuals involved as "common-law" offenders acting as paid intermediaries, describing the method as a known modus operandi that uses proxies recruited to execute attacks. He said authorities have noted similarities with incidents in several European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain and Norway, where improvised devices have been used against locations associated with U.S. interests.
Financial sector notice
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Conclusion
Investigators continue to develop leads in the days after police prevented the ignition of a makeshift device outside Bank of America’s Paris offices. Two more suspects have been detained, and judicial processes under French anti-terrorism law are underway while domestic intelligence and Paris police investigators probe the origins and possible links highlighted by authorities.