French authorities have arrested a suspect following an attempted bombing at a Bank of America facility.
The attempted attack occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning at a branch in central Paris.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3.30am local time on Rue de la Boétie in the capital's eighth arrondissement, situated just streets away from the famous Champs-Élysées avenue.
Officers apprehended the individual as he was preparing to detonate the device outside the American bank's premises.
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The office was shut at the time of the incident, which took place in the upmarket district known for its elegant architecture and proximity to major landmarks.
The makeshift explosive device comprised five litres of liquid fuel connected to a detonation mechanism, a source told AFP.
Police intervened moments after the man had positioned the device outside the building, preventing any detonation from occurring.
The building was unoccupied when the incident took place.
The Bank of America on Rue de la Boétie
|Bank of America confirmed to CBS News that none of its staff members sustained injuries during the event.
A spokeswoman for the bank, Jessica Oppenheim, acknowledged the company's awareness of the situation and said they were liaising with law enforcement officials.
Local reports suggest the attacker was accompanied by another person who fled the scene.
During police questioning the man claimed he was taken to the site in a car.
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Bank of America said it was liaising with police
|REUTERS
He went on to claim that he was recruited on Snapchat and offered 600 euros to detonate the device.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the episode as a "violent act of a terrorist nature" that was thwarted thanks to the rapid intervention of officers from the Paris police prefecture.
"Well done to the rapid intervention of a police prefecture crew, which made it possible to thwart a violent terrorist action last night in Paris," she said.
"Vigilance remains at a higher level than ever. I congratulate all the security and intelligence forces, who are fully mobilised under my authority in the current international context."
France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has assumed control of the case and has launched an investigation.
The charges encompass attempted destruction by fire or dangerous means linked to a terrorist enterprise, manufacturing an incendiary device in connection with terrorism, and criminal terrorist association.
The investigation involves both Paris judicial police and France's domestic intelligence agency, the General Directorate for Internal Security, known as DGSI, who are working together on the inquiry.
The Paris police authority declined to comment.