In the early hours of Monday, an individual launched an incendiary device that detonated outside the Russian Consulate located in Marseille, coinciding with the three-year mark of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident.
A second device was also hurled at the consulate’s outer wall but failed to explode and instead landed on the sidewalk. To manage the unexploded device, officials sent a bomb disposal expert to the scene.
The perpetrator managed to escape, prompting authorities to initiate an investigation into the occurrence. An official mentioned, under conditions of anonymity, that they were not permitted to disclose specifics due to national police protocols. Details regarding the suspect or potential motivations behind the attack remain undisclosed.
Marseille, which is France’s second-largest city and serves as a significant port on the Mediterranean, boasts a varied demographic but lacks a significant Russian population. Since 2022, France has experienced numerous demonstrations against Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, with protests occurring in Marseille, Paris, and other urban locations.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, described the Marseille incident as possessing “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.”
