Device Explodes at Russian Consulate in Marseille on Ukraine War Anniversary
No one was injured in the predawn blast, which followed the hurling of two devices toward the consulate’s perimeter
An incendiary device exploded outside the Russian Consulate in Marseille early Monday, French authorities said, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. No one was injured in the predawn blast, which followed the hurling of two devices—one detonated, the other did not—toward the consulate’s perimeter.
A bomb disposal team neutralized the second device, while the suspect escaped, according to a French official who spoke on condition of anonymity under national police protocol. Details about the suspect or motive remain undisclosed as an investigation begins. Marseille, France’s second-largest city with a modest Russian presence, has hosted protests against the Ukraine war since 2022, though no prior attacks on the consulate had been reported.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry was quick to label the incident a potential terrorist act. “It has all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state media, urging France to bolster security at Russian diplomatic sites. Local reports noted a stolen vehicle found nearby, though its link to the attack is unconfirmed.
The explosion comes as France, a key supporter of Ukraine, navigates tensions with Moscow three years into Europe’s deadliest conflict since 1945. Authorities have offered no immediate comment on broader implications.
