Russian Foreign Ministry calls explosion at Marseille consulate terrorist attack

An explosion that rocked the Russian consulate in the French city of Marseille on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was caused by two explosive devices being thrown at the façade of the building, French news broadcaster BFM TV reported on Monday.

Of the two devices that were thrown at the consulate façade at about 8am on Monday morning, only one detonated, according to BFM TV, which added that there were about 30 firefighters and police officers currently at the site, and that the surrounding area, which is home to multiple other consulates, had been cordoned off. No injuries have so far been reported.

Russia’s Consul General in Marseille, Stanislav Oransky, confirmed to Russian business news outlet RBC that an explosion had occurred at the consulate.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told state-owned news agency RIA Novosti that more than one explosion had been heard, and that they bore “the hallmarks of a terrorist attack” before demanding “an exhaustive and prompt investigation” from the French authorities, and calling for “steps to strengthen the security of Russia’s overseas missions”.

RIA Novosti said that a bomb disposal unit had carried out a controlled explosion of a suspicious object, while French weekly Valeurs Actuelles reported that a stolen car had been found abandoned near the site of the attack.