Bomb Blast Near Russian Consulate In Southern France, Moscow Calls is ‘Terror Attack’- wna24
Marseille: A bomb exploded after being thrown at Russian Consulate General in Southern France’s Marseille, local media reported Monday, citing law enforcement sources. Foreign Ministry of Russia responded to the incident by calling it a “hallmarks of a terrorist attack.”
“The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted saying by TASS.
Authorities reported that an explosive device detonated outside the Russian Consulate in Marseille, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Two explosive devices were thrown at the consulate’s facade around 7:30 a.m. local time, according to an unnamed police official speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV. While only one device detonated, a bomb squad is working to defuse the other.
No injuries or damage have been reported so far, though Russia’s Consul General in Marseille, Stanislav Oransky, confirmed the explosion and noted that firefighters were responding to the scene.
A second device, which was also thrown against the consulate’s outer wall, did not explode and fell to the sidewalk. A bomb disposal expert was called to the scene.
The suspect fled and an investigation has been launched, an official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named by national police policy. Authorities did not provide details on the suspect or a motive.
Earlier, media reports stated that unidentified assailants threw Molotov cocktails into the consulate’s garden. However, law enforcement later confirmed that Molotov cocktails were not involved in the attack.
Marseille, France’s second-largest city and a major Mediterranean port, is home to a diverse population but does not have a notably large Russian community. France has seen multiple protests against Russia’s war in Ukraine since 2022, including demonstrations in Marseille, Paris, and other cities.