A day following the detonation of an explosive device outside the Russian consulate in France, authorities have apprehended two individuals.
An incendiary device detonated near the Russian consulate in Marseille on Tuesday, while a second device was thrown but failed to explode. This incident coincided with the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Without disclosing specific details, the Marseille prosecutor’s office announced that “two significant individuals” have been taken into custody in connection with the event, as reported by Reuters.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the incident on Monday.
Marseille, recognized as France’s second-largest city, serves as a prominent Mediterranean port and has a limited population of ethnic Russians.
While French officials have refrained from commenting on the motive behind the attack, Russia has characterized the event as bearing “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.”
Since 2022, France has witnessed numerous protests against Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine.
At present, France, alongside the United Kingdom, is spearheading efforts to facilitate a dignified resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. With former US President Donald Trump having effectively dismissed the prospect of US security guarantees for Ukraine and indicated a lack of interest in European security, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have proposed a plan for a European peacekeeping force for Ukraine. They are endeavoring to persuade Trump to endorse the peacekeeping initiative and participate in broader security assurances for Ukraine.
