* Probe involves suspected terrorist plot and explosive

device

* Suspect arrested, accomplice remains at large, Le

Parisien reports

* Suspect claims payment via Snapchat for attack - Le

Parisien

(Recasts with anti-terrorism prosecutor's office statement,

adds details from Le Parisien report)

By Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS, March 28 (Reuters) - French anti-terrorism

prosecutors have opened an investigation into a suspected attack

targeting Bank of America's ( BAC ) Paris headquarters after the

reported overnight arrest of a man who allegedly tried to ignite

an improvised explosive device outside the U.S. bank's premises.

In an e-mailed statement to Reuters, the national

anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said the investigation

involves the suspected attempted destruction by fire or other

dangerous means in connection with a terrorist plot, as well as

the manufacture, possession and transport of an incendiary or

explosive device.

The investigation also includes a charge of participation in

a terrorist criminal association, covering potential links to

accomplices or a broader network. It has been entrusted to the

Paris police judicial unit and France's domestic intelligence

agency, the DGSI.

French newspaper Le Parisien and other media earlier

reported the arrest of a man at the scene, citing police

sources.

"Well done to the rapid response team from the (Paris)

police authority, whose actions thwarted a violent terrorist

attack in Paris last night," French Interior Minister Laurent

Nunez said in a social media post.

"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."

The Paris police authority declined to comment.

"We are aware of the situation and are communicating with

the authorities," a spokesperson for Bank of America ( BAC ) told

Reuters.

The suspect was arrested at around 3:25 a.m. local time

(0225 GMT) in the city's 8th arrondissement, or district, as he

tried to light the explosive device, Le Parisien reported. He

was taken into custody, while a second individual who was

present fled the scene and remains at large, Le Parisien added.

The suspect told police he had been contacted via Snapchat

and paid 600 euros ($690) to carry out the act, adding that he

had been driven to the scene by another person, Le

Parisien reported.

The device consisted of a 5-litre container filled with an

unidentified liquid and an explosive charge made of about 650

grams of powder, the French newspaper reported. It was secured

and handed over to forensic experts from the Paris police

laboratory, it reported.

($1 = 0.8690 euros)