French authorities have taken three teenagers into custody following a disrupted attempt to set off an improvised explosive device outside a Bank of America office in central Paris.

The incident unfolded shortly before 3:30 a.m. Saturday in the city’s 8th arrondissement, near the Champs-Élysées, where police patrols assigned to protect sensitive locations spotted suspicious activity. Officers intervened as one suspect allegedly tried to ignite a crude device made from flammable liquid containers and several hundred grams of explosive powder. Police arrested the individual at the scene, while another person—reportedly filming the attempt—ran off. Investigators later detained two additional suspects, bringing the total number in custody to three, all believed to be minors.

One of the teens detained later is suspected of being the individual who fled during the initial police response. Investigators are also examining claims that the main suspect may have been recruited online and offered payment to carry out the attack, possibly acting as an intermediary.

According to officials, the device, though basic, had the potential to cause serious harm. Authorities say the rapid response by officers prevented it from being set off. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the “swift intervention” and described the incident as a “violent action of a terrorist nature,” adding that security forces remain on high alert. Authorities are also exploring whether foreign actors may have played a role, with Nuñez noting there is “significant suspicion” of potential links to Iranian networks operating through proxies, though he emphasized that no conclusions have been reached.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation, citing multiple charges tied to attempted destruction using dangerous means, as well as the production and possession of explosive materials in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Under French law, suspects in such cases can be held for up to 96 hours, with possible extensions. The case is now being handled jointly by Paris police and France’s domestic intelligence agency, as officials continue to assess possible connections to similar incidents across Europe targeting sites associated with U.S. interests.

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