• French police thwarted an attempted bomb attack outside Bank of America in Paris.
• A suspect was arrested while another managed to escape the scene.
• The device included a liquid and explosive powder and was made to cause damage.
• Authorities have heightened vigilance due to the current international context of conflict.
• The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has launched a full investigation.

French police successfully thwarted a suspected bomb attack outside a Bank of America building in Paris in the early hours of Saturday, March 28. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 AM, when police arrested a man who was attempting to ignite a homemade explosive device. The device contained five liters of liquid, believed to be fuel, and an ignition system with 650 grams of explosive powder, according to sources Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has since initiated an investigation into the thwarted attack, exploring charges related to the attempted use of dangerous means causing damage and the manufacture and possession of explosive devices. This inquiry aims to uncover any potential links to a broader terrorist network and is being conducted by the Paris police judicial unit in collaboration with France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, according to reports from SCMP and SCMP.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the swift actions of the police, acknowledging their role in preventing what he described as a "violent act of a terrorist nature." He emphasized that "vigilance remains at a very high level" in the current international climate, especially after escalating tensions in conflict zones Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

Details from police sources indicated that two suspects were initially observed near the scene, with one holding a lighter while attempting to ignite the explosive device. While one suspect was apprehended, the other fled and is still being sought by authorities. Officials report that the arrested individual claimed he was paid 600 euros to carry out the act, adding a layer of complexity to the investigation SCMP and SCMP.