An explosion occurred inside the Russian Consulate in Marseille, France, on Monday, February 24, according to reports from Russian news agency RBC.
Russian Consul General in Marseille, Stanislav Oranskiy, confirmed the blast, which French media outlets also reported. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Russian state news agency TASS, citing sources from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, suggested that the explosion had the hallmarks of a “terrorist attack.”
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called on French authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova demanded that France take immediate and thorough measures to probe the blast and enhance the security of Russian diplomatic missions.
The explosion comes on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while diplomatic efforts are underway with aim to end the war adding further significance to the troubling event.
The reported incident takes place at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron is in the United States and is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House today.
According to sources the agenda of discussions will include Macron’s presentation of “action proposals” to U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at addressing the “Russian threat” in Europe and ensuring “sustainable peace” in Ukraine, amid growing Russian-American rapprochement.
