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"Clearly A Concerted Effort": Foiled Terror Attack At BofA's Paris HQ Tied To Mideast War, France Says

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by Tyler Durden
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Summary: Foiled Terror Attack at BofA Paris HQ

  • French authorities have now arrested three suspects tied to the foiled terror attack at BofA's Paris office.

  • Authorities say the plot appears linked to the broader U.S.-Iran conflict in the Middle East.

  • The suspects allegedly tried to detonate a homemade explosive device outside BofA headquarters, home to BofA Securities Europe SA and BofA Europe DAC's France branch.

  • The young military-aged men were reportedly recruited through social media to carry out the operation.

  • The attempted BofA Paris attack comes weeks after an ISIS-inspired terror incident in New York City.

French Authorities Say Foiled Terror Attack on BofA Paris HQ Linked To Mideast War 

French authorities have now arrested three suspects tied to the foiled terror attack outside Bank of America's Paris headquarters, with investigators saying the plot appears linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict in the Middle East.

The latest two arrests follow the earlier arrest of the suspect, who allegedly tried to detonate a homemade explosive device at 51 Rue La Boétie address in Paris, the site of two key Bank of America entities that let the firm operate inside France and the EU financial system. Bank of America lists that address for both BofA Securities Europe SA and Bank of America Europe DAC's France branch. 

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told BFM TV that the Paris terror plot bears all the hallmarks of recent incidents in the Netherlands and Norway, where minors or young men were allegedly recruited and paid to carry out attacks.

Let's not forget this emerging pattern of terror in the West comes weeks after two radicalized military-age men tried to detonate an improvised explosive device in New York City, with federal authorities calling it ISIS-inspired terrorism.

Nunez said that in these cases, the bomb in Paris was placed by minors or young men who were paid to carry out the plan.

He emphasized, "There's clearly a concerted effort."

The first detained suspect told French authorities he was contacted via Snapchat and paid €600, or about $690, to carry out the terror attack, according to local outlet Le Parisien.

A Bank of America spokeswoman told Bloomberg the company was "aware of the situation" and is communicating with authorities.

This type of terror reflects a broader and increasingly common pattern across Europe and the US: decentralized attacks in which minors or young men (military-age men) are recruited on social media, paid small sums, and used as disposable operatives to target high-visibility Western assets. It is likely this hybrid warfare threat is far from over.

French Anti-terrorism Authorities Foil an Attempted Terror Attack at the Bank of America HQ in Paris

French anti-terrorism authorities thwarted an attempted attack early Saturday morning when police arrested a suspect as he tried to ignite an explosive device directly in front of the Bank of America headquarters in Paris. 

The incident unfolded around 3:25-3:30 a.m. when officers from the Paris police's BAC (Brigade Anti-Criminalité) unit, already on heightened patrol near the building due to prior threats, spotted the individual attempting to set fire to the device with a lighter. The device consisted of a 5-liter transparent jerrycan filled with an unidentified flammable liquid (reportedly a hydrocarbon such as gasoline) attached to a mortar-style tube or large firecracker containing approximately 650 grams of explosive powder. No detonation occurred, and there were no injuries or damage.

A second individual, believed to have been acting as a lookout, fled the scene on foot. The arrested suspect, a 17-year-old minor born in Senegal and residing in a Paris suburb, was taken into custody. During initial questioning, he reportedly claimed he had been dropped off at the location by a driver and was recruited via the social media app Snapchat for a payment of €600 to carry out the act.

BofA Paris HQ, April 2019

According to Le Monde, France's Parquet National Antiterroriste (PNAT), the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office, immediately opened a formal investigation. The probe is being conducted in flagrante delicto on charges including:

  • Attempted degradation by fire or dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking

  • Manufacturing, possession, and transport of an incendiary or explosive device in a terrorist context

  • Participation in a terrorist criminal association

The Paris judicial police's anti-terrorism section and France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, are leading the inquiry alongside judicial police units. The device was secured and sent for analysis by the Paris police prefecture's central laboratory.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the officers' swift action on social media, stating: "Bravo to the rapid intervention of a Paris prefecture crew that thwarted a violent action of a terrorist nature this night in Paris. Vigilance remains more than ever at a high level."

A spokeswoman for Bank of America confirmed the company was "aware of the situation" and is cooperating with French authorities. The building had reportedly been under increased surveillance due to previous threats, including a recent video from a pro-Iran group that singled out the bank as a target linked to "Zionist and Israeli interests."

This foiled plot occurs against a backdrop of heightened terrorist threat levels in France and Europe, with authorities maintaining elevated vigilance amid ongoing international tensions. The investigation continues, with efforts focused on identifying any broader network or accomplices. No further arrests have been reported as of Saturday afternoon.

The suspect remains in police custody, and authorities have not yet released additional details about his background or possible motives. Updates are expected as the probe advances.

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