Belgian Woman Indicted in Paris Bank of America Attack Plot
A 24-year-old Belgian woman from Liège has been indicted and incarcerated in Paris for her alleged role in a foiled attack plot targeting the Paris headquarters of Bank of America, French anti-terrorism prosecutors confirmed. The woman, who was transferred to France by Belgian authorities under a European arrest warrant, is now among five people facing charges in connection with the thwarted attack.
The Charges
The woman was formally indicted on July 31 by an investigating judge and placed in pre-trial detention by the judge of liberties and detention, according to the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT). She faces charges of criminal terrorist conspiracy aimed at preparing acts of terrorism, specifically the destruction by explosive or incendiary substances in circumstances likely to cause death. She is also charged with possession and transport of explosive products in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
According to the PNAT, the woman is suspected of having recruited three teenagers to deposit an improvised explosive device in front of the Bank of America building, asking them to film the act for payment of between 500 and 1,000 euros. Her lawyer, Me Clémentine Berthier, declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
The Foiled Attack
The plot was uncovered in the night of March 27-28, when police from the anti-crime brigade observed suspicious activity in front of the Bank of America headquarters on rue La Boétie in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Officers intercepted a teenager who was depositing an improvised explosive device - a 5-liter container of flammable liquid with an ignition system. A second individual fled on foot.
The arrested teenager told investigators he had been recruited via the Snapchat app for 600 euros. A judicial investigation was subsequently opened on April 1 for criminal terrorist conspiracy, with four people initially indicted and placed in pre-trial detention.
The Hayi Connection
The foiled attack has been linked to the groupuscule Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (Hayi), which claimed responsibility in March for several attacks against Jewish communities in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. These included the explosion at the synagogue in Liège on March 9, a synagogue fire in Rotterdam, attacks on Jewish community ambulances in London, and a car fire in the Jewish quarter of Antwerp.
The PNAT stated that the Paris plot “appears to be attributable” to Hayi, though this link could not be formally established at this stage.
A Pattern of Low-Cost Terrorism
Experts describe these attacks as a form of “low-cost terrorism” - using inexpensive methods and paid recruits to create fear and send political messages. Michaël Dantinne, professor of criminology at the University of Liège, noted the identical modus operandi across attacks: a firecracker and flammable liquid, targeting buildings where no people would be found. “They hire criminal labor, not necessarily fanatical, for money,” he explained, adding that the strategy appears designed to send a political message to European states.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez made the link between the foiled attack and the Middle East conflict, noting similarities with actions in other European countries. He also raised suspicions of possible Iranian involvement, saying: “There are a number of Iranian services that are likely to carry out actions such as this one through proxies.”
The Broader Network
The investigation has revealed connections to a wider network. In May, US federal authorities charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national and alleged senior member of the pro-Iranian militia Kataib Hezbollah, with coordinating at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe. The criminal complaint, unsealed in Manhattan federal court, alleges al-Saadi directed the Hayi groupuscule and worked directly with Iran’s Quds Force.
The woman from Liège was arrested during a police operation on June 25 connected to the Liège synagogue attack investigation, and remained in detention in Liège until her extradition to France. The Liège attack, like the Paris plot, appears to have been carried out by individuals who were paid rather than ideologically motivated.
What’s Next
With five people now indicted and in pre-trial detention, the investigation continues to unfold across multiple European jurisdictions. The case highlights the evolving nature of the terrorist threat in Europe - one that increasingly relies on low-cost operations and vulnerable recruits rather than sophisticated networks. As authorities continue to untangle the connections between the Paris plot, the Liège attack, and the broader campaign, questions remain about the extent of state sponsorship and the potential for further escalation.