Explosion occurs near Russian consulate in Marseille
Photo: An explosion was heard near the Russian consulate in Marseille (Getty Images)
An explosion occurred near the Russian consulate in Marseille at around 8 a.m. local time. Many police officers and firefighters are working at the scene, BFMTV reports.
The consulate is located on Ambroise-Paré Avenue, in the 8th district. The area is home to many consulates, including those of Egypt, Tunisia, Armenia, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Around thirty firefighters and police officers are present at the scene.
According to Valeurs Actuelles, no one was injured, but material damage to Russian property was reported. The explosion was recorded on February 24, around 8 a.m. local time.
Moscow has used diplomatic missions in Europe for espionage and sabotage activities. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of spies working under diplomatic cover were expelled from European countries.
In particular, in April 2022, France expelled six employees of the Russian embassy for espionage. After a lengthy investigation, France's General Directorate for Internal Security uncovered a covert operation conducted by Russian intelligence services. Six Russian diplomats involved in intelligence activities were declared persona non grata.
European countries are advised to take precautions against the increased risk of violence from Russia-backed agents. Meanwhile, the governments of various countries are trying to combat the growing threats of sabotage and intimidation financed by Russia.
