A fire broke out at the Russian Consulate General in Marseille after unknown attackers hurled Molotov cocktails into the diplomatic compound.
This was reported by French media BFMTV on February 24, citing police sources.
Explosion and Emergency Response
The attack occurred in the morning near the consulate in Marseille’s 8th arrondissement and caused a small explosion.
According to law enforcement officials, two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the consulate’s garden, sparking a fire.
Emergency services quickly responded, with around 30 firefighters and police officers arriving at the scene.
No one was injured, and the fire was contained.
Russia’s Consul General in Marseille, Stanislav Oransky, told reporters from La Marseillaise that the explosion took place inside the consulate at 3 Avenue Ambroise Paré.
The area was immediately cordoned off, and investigators are working to determine who was behind the attack.
The Russian consulate shares the neighborhood with other diplomatic missions, including those of Egypt, Tunisia, Armenia, and São Tomé and Príncipe, BFMTV noted.
While no group has claimed responsibility, incidents targeting Russian diplomatic missions have increased across Europe in recent months.
In a separate case in March 2024, French authorities arrested a 43-year-old Russian citizen in Toulouse for allegedly making violent threats against fellow Russians. The man reportedly called the Russian consulate over 100 times, claiming he planned to carry out a series of attacks.
French authorities have not yet commented on whether today’s attack is linked to broader geopolitical tensions.
