Three explosive devices were thrown at Russia’s Consulate General in the southern French port city of Marseille, French media reported Monday, citing sources in law enforcement.
Only two of the explosive devices were believed to have gone off after they were tossed at the consulate’s facade, an unnamed police official told Le Monde. A bomb squad was sent to defuse the remaining undetonated bomb, French broadcaster BFMTV reported.
No injuries or damage have been reported, though Russia’s Consul General in Marseille, Stanislav Oransky, confirmed the explosion and said firefighters were responding to the scene.
According to BFMTV, Oransky and all other diplomatic staff were forced to wait inside the consulate for bomb disposal experts to defuse the explosive device that did not detonate. Around 30 firefighters and police officers were deployed to the site, it added.
Earlier, media reported that unidentified assailants threw two Molotov cocktails into the consulate’s garden. However, law enforcement authorities later ruled out that Molotov cocktails were used in the attack.
According to journalist Nicolas Boutin of Valeurs Actuelles, who cited anonymous police sources, authorities were investigating a stolen vehicle found nearby.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the explosion a “terrorist act” and urged French authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
France’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident.
“The inviolability, protection and integrity of diplomatic and consular premises, as well as their personnel, are fundamental principles of international law,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
