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An explosion rocked the Russian Consulate General in Marseille early Monday morning, marking a tense start to the day that coincides with the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The blast occurred inside the consulate premises shortly before 8:00 a.m. local time, Russian Consul General Stanislav Oranskiy confirmed to the local newspaper La Marseillaise.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with firefighters and police converging on the diplomatic compound.
According to French media reports, including BFMTV, the explosion may have been caused by two Molotov cocktails thrown into the consulate's garden. A stolen vehicle discovered near the scene has drawn investigators' attention, suggesting a premeditated act.
Approximately 30 emergency responders, including both firefighters and police officers, were dispatched to the scene. No injuries have been reported, with damage apparently limited to property within the consulate grounds.
The incident comes at a particularly sensitive time, as European leaders gather in Washington for emergency talks on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, and as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Foreign Minister Fidan, President Erdogan in Türkiye.
Russian officials have suggested the possibility of a "terrorist attack," citing earlier warnings from Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service about potential threats to diplomatic missions across Europe.
However, French authorities have not yet officially determined the cause of the explosion.
The investigation remains active, with law enforcement examining multiple aspects of the incident, including the abandoned stolen vehicle and the nature of the explosive devices used.
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