French anti-terrorism authorities announced Wednesday they believe a pro-Iranian organization orchestrated a thwarted bombing attempt targeting Bank of America’s Paris headquarters last week.
The suspected group, known as HAYI (Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam), had released a threatening video on social media on March 23 that specifically mentioned the bank’s location in Paris’s 8th district, according to prosecutors.
“In light of the aforementioned video targeting this U.S. bank and the modus operandi observed in similar operations across several European countries, this attack… appears to be linked to the HAYI group, although this has not yet been formally established at this stage of the proceedings,” prosecutors stated.
The explosive device discovered on March 28 consisted of a five-liter gasoline container attached to a large pyrotechnic charge containing 650 grams of active material and a fuse. French police determined it was the most potent pyrotechnic device of its type ever found in the country.
Authorities have formally charged four individuals in the case – one adult and three minors – while releasing a fifth person due to insufficient evidence. Through surveillance video, phone records, and interrogations, investigators determined the adult recruited the three teenagers between March 26-27, paying them 500 to 1,000 euros to place the device, ignite it, and record the incident.
While all four suspects have denied terrorist intentions, the minors admitted they understood their target was not a residential structure, prosecutors said.
The Iranian embassy in France has not responded to requests for comment and previously declined to address remarks by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez regarding Iran’s potential involvement.
French anti-terrorism investigators are coordinating with officials in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands regarding what they describe as HAYI-connected attacks throughout Europe in March. Their current focus centers on identifying the masterminds behind the operation.
