Paris– The French counterterrorism prosecutor’s office said Wednesday that four men are suspected of “terrorist criminal conspiracy” after police foiled a bomb attack One case is believed to have occurred outside the Bank of America building in Paris. relations with iran.
Police arrested a suspect early Saturday morning in front of the building outside the bank, where they found a homemade bomb made from a gasoline-filled container taped to a powerful firework. Forensic experts said the device contained 650 grams (about 23 ounces) of explosives, an unusually large amount never found before in France. He said this could have created a large fireball and caused a massive fire.
Prosecutors requested the four suspects, including three minors, be detained until trial as it formally launched a judicial investigation into the incident, which follows similar actions across Europe.
The US bank’s offices in Paris were specifically mentioned as a possible target in a propaganda video circulated on social media on March 23, just before the planned attack. It was attributed to a pro-Iranian group known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, which translates as Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right.
The planned attack came to light on Saturday morning, when police officers keeping watch outside the bank spotted two men near the entrance. Officers arrested a 17-year-old suspect at the scene.
They later arrested two other 16-year-old suspects and an adult who had previously been convicted of drug trafficking. The fifth man was released without charges.
The three minors, who have no prior criminal records, have denied any terror-related intentions, the prosecutor’s office said.
A judicial investigation was initiated on preliminary charges of terrorist criminal conspiracy, manufacturing, possessing and transporting explosive devices and attempting destruction as part of an organized group and in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
Prosecutors said an analysis of CCTV footage, the suspects’ digital media and mobile phone data, as well as their statements to police, showed that three minors were recruited last week to plant and ignite the device at a specified address and film the scene in exchange for 500 to 1,000 euros (about $530 to $1,160).
The Harakat Ashab al-Yameen al-Islamiyya group has claimed responsibility for other actions, including across Europe in Belgium And Netherlands and for An attack in London last weekWhere four ambulances of a Jewish charitable organization were set on fire.
Anti-terrorism police in London announced Three additional arrests on Wednesday Ambulance on attack. Two people were earlier granted bail after being detained in the investigation.
The prosecutor’s office said the foiled attack in Paris “probably” appears to be linked to the group “although this has not yet been formally established at this stage of the proceedings.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said this week that Iran’s intelligence services habitually use “proxies,” a series of subcontractors, to carry out operations abroad targeting American interests, the Jewish community and Iranian opposition figures.
French authorities have stepped up security around prominent figures and sites since the US and Israel launched war against Iran on February 28, including personal security of some of the Iranian opposition.
