An explosion occurred at the Russian consulate in Marseille, France, on the morning of February 24, raising concerns about potential acts of terrorism targeting Russian diplomatic missions in Europe. The blast, which took place around 7:30 a.m. local time, caused property damage but no casualties, according to local media and Russian officials. French police and firefighters promptly responded to the scene, and an investigation is underway.

Initial reports from French news outlets BFM and Valeurs indicated that approximately 30 firefighters and law enforcement officers were deployed to the consulate following the explosion. Nicolas Boutin, a journalist from Valeurs, cited police sources who suggested that two Molotov cocktails had been thrown into the consulate’s garden. The La Marseillaise newspaper quoted Russian Consul General Stanislav Oranskiy, who confirmed the explosion occurred inside the building. Firefighters entered the premises to assess the situation and mitigate any further risks.

A stolen vehicle discovered near the consulate has also drawn investigators’ attention, though it is unclear whether it is directly linked to the attack. Russian news agency TASS reported that three explosive devices were thrown onto the consulate grounds, with one detonating and causing limited material damage.

In the aftermath of the explosion, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, stated that the incident bore “all the hallmarks of a terrorist........

© Blitz