A 23-year-old Belgian woman, charged in the investigation into the foiled attack plot at the end of March outside Bank of America's Paris headquarters, was released on bail this week. Her lawyer maintains that she knew nothing about the terrorist plot. The case, which involves several suspects, including minors, remains under the jurisdiction of the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office.
A new development has emerged in the investigation into the attempted attack on Bank of America in Paris. A Belgian national, previously held in pretrial detention for her alleged involvement in the case, was released under judicial supervision this week, according to information revealed on Saturday, November 14. This decision comes several months after her arrest and transfer to France under a European arrest warrant.
The young woman is one of two Belgian nationals charged in this case over the summer. Aged 23 when she was detained in August, she is suspected of having participated in transporting an explosive device intended for use outside the American bank's premises. Her lawyer, Werner-Édouard de Saeger van Nattenhaesdonck, firmly denies any voluntary involvement of his client in a terrorist plot.
A defense that denies any involvement in the project
According to her lawyer, the young woman, now 24 years old and with no prior criminal record, has always maintained that she knew nothing of the intentions of those involved in the operation. The lawyer also emphasized that there was no evidence to link her personally to a violent ideology. Her release under judicial supervision represents a development in her procedural situation, but does not signify the dropping of charges or the end of the investigation.
The investigation continues to determine precisely the role of each of the individuals involved. Investigators are particularly focused on reconstructing the recruitment chain for the perpetrators, the conditions under which the explosive device was transported, and the identity of any potential masterminds. Several people have already been charged in this case, which is being handled by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office.
An attack was thwarted during the night of March 27-28
The events date back to the end of March 2026. The Paris headquarters of Bank of America, located on Rue de la Boétie in the 8th arrondissement of Paris , had been designated as the target of an operation involving several teenagers. According to information released by the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office, three minors allegedly attempted to plant an explosive device in front of the building on the night of March 26-27. The presence of a police vehicle reportedly led them to abandon the attempt.
A second attempt was reportedly organized the following night. Two teenagers allegedly appeared in front of the bank premises with a homemade incendiary and explosive device. Their operation was thwarted by police officers who were monitoring the area. Subsequent technical analysis revealed the dangerous nature of the device, which could have caused a large fireball and started a blaze.
Teenagers who were allegedly recruited for payment
One of the most troubling aspects of the case concerns the alleged use of minors to carry out the operation. According to the investigation, the teenagers were reportedly asked to place the device in front of the bank and film their actions, in exchange for payment ranging from 500 to 1,000 euros. Investigators are trying to determine the extent to which these young people were aware of the exact nature of the device and the potential consequences of their participation.
This recruitment method is a key lead for counterterrorism services. It reveals an organization based on several intermediaries, with operatives recruited to carry out specific tasks. In this case, the investigation quickly expanded beyond French territory, leading magistrates to request the cooperation of Belgian and Dutch judicial authorities.
Investigators are examining the possibility of a pro-Iranian network.
As early as April, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office had raised the possibility of linking this attempted attack to the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya group, also known by the acronym HAYI. This organization, described as pro-Iranian, had claimed responsibility for several violent attacks targeting, in particular, American interests and sites associated with the Jewish community in various European countries. At this stage of the investigation, however, the prosecutor's office specified that this link had not been formally established.
International investigations have since uncovered new leads. According to court documents published in October, the FBI suspects an Iraqi national, arrested in Turkey , of having coordinated several planned attacks in Europe, including one targeting Bank of America in Paris. These findings, however, must be considered within the context of ongoing legal proceedings and do not prejudge the responsibility of the individuals involved.
Anti-terrorism investigation still ongoing
The release of the young Belgian woman marks a new stage in this particularly sensitive case. Another minor suspect had already been released under electronic monitoring during the autumn. These judicial decisions do not call into question the continuation of the investigation, but reflect an evolution in the security measures applied to certain defendants.
For the anti-terrorism magistrates, several questions remain unanswered: the exact role of the intermediaries, the conditions under which the teenagers were recruited, and the possible involvement of a foreign organization in planning the attack. The vigilance of the police prevented the explosion in front of the bank. Now, the investigation must establish individual responsibility, while respecting the presumption of innocence.
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