Finance
France Suspects pro-Iranian Group Hayi Was Behind Foiled Attack on Bank of America Paris
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 1, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
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French anti‑terror authorities suspect the newly emerged pro‑Iranian group HAYI (‘Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya’) may be linked to a foiled bomb attack outside Bank of America’s Paris office on March 28, although no formal connection has yet been established.
Bank of America Paris Attack Foiled; HAYI Suspected by French Authorities
Foiled Attack Details and Investigation
By Mathieu Rosemain
Suspicions and Initial Findings
PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - France suspects a pro-Iranian group known as HAYI to be behind a foiled attack on Bank of America's Paris offices, its anti-terrorism prosecutor said on Wednesday, although it stressed the link has not yet been formally established.
HAYI’s Background and Propaganda
HAYI, which stands for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, had posted a propaganda video on social media on March 23 targeting Jewish interests and communities in France and Europe, the prosecutor's office said in a statement to Reuters.
It added the video specifically named Bank of America's Paris headquarters in the French capital's 8th district.
Official Statements and Modus Operandi
"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," the prosecutor's office said.
International Responses and Device Details
Iranian Embassy and French Authorities
The Iranian embassy in France did not immediately respond to a request for comment and declined over the weekend to comment on French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s remarks pointing to Iran’s possible involvement.
Explosive Device Description
The device used in the foiled March 28 attack, a five-litre petrol can taped to a large pyrotechnic charge, was found by forensic experts to contain a 650-gram active-material cylinder with a fuse, the prosecutor's office said. Paris police found it was the most powerful pyrotechnic device of its kind identified in France to date, it added.
Suspects and Investigation Progress
Arrests and Charges
Four suspects, three minors and one adult, were formally placed under investigation, the prosecutor's office said. A fifth person was released for lack of sufficient evidence.
Recruitment and Execution Plan
Investigators established through CCTV footage, phone data and police interviews that the adult had recruited the three teenagers between the nights of March 26 and 27, paying them between 500 and 1,000 euros ($580-$1,160) to plant the device, light it and film the scene, the prosecutor's office said.
Suspects’ Statements
All four suspects denied terrorist intent, though the minors acknowledged knowing the target was not a residential building, it said.
Broader European Context
French anti-terrorism prosecutors said they were working with counterparts in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands on what they called HAYI-linked attacks across Europe in March.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators' priority is now to identify the masterminds behind the attack, prosecutors said.
($1 = 0.8618 euros)
(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Key Takeaways
- •The improvised device—one of the most powerful pyrotechnic devices ever found in France—was discovered and attributed, in part due to a propaganda video naming the bank, to the pro‑Iranian group HAYI (Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya), which has claimed a series of antisemitic and anti‑Western attacks across Europe in March 2026 (apnews.com).
- •Investigations revealed that an adult recruiter recruited three minors via Snapchat for €500–1,000 to plant and film the device; all four suspects deny terrorist intent, and French prosecutors are cooperating with Belgian, German and Dutch counterparts to identify the masterminds behind HAYI‑linked operations (israelhayom.com).
- •Assessments by analysts and institutions, including ICCT and Tech Against Terrorism, question HAYI’s authenticity—suggesting it may be an astroturfed brand with inconsistencies—though some governments consider it a new Iranian proxy in Europe’s growing wave of antisemitic and anti‑Western attacks (en.wikipedia.org).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about France suspects pro-Iranian group HAYI was behind foiled attack on Bank of America Paris
1Who is suspected of being behind the foiled attack on Bank of America Paris?
French authorities suspect a pro-Iranian group known as HAYI was behind the foiled attack on Bank of America's Paris office.
2What is HAYI?
HAYI stands for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, a pro-Iranian group.
3How was the foiled Bank of America Paris attack discovered?
A device consisting of a petrol can and large pyrotechnic charge was found at the Bank of America Paris office by forensic experts and police.
4How many suspects are under investigation in the Paris incident?
Four suspects, three minors and one adult, have been formally placed under investigation.
5Are authorities linking this attack to broader European operations?
Yes, French prosecutors are working with authorities in other European countries to investigate similar HAYI-linked attacks.
