Explosion at the Russian Consulate in Marseille: Two CNRS Researchers to be Tried in Immediate Appearance

The two researchers from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) suspected of having thrown explosive devices into the grounds of the Russian consulate in Marseille are being brought before a judge today for liberty and detention with a view to an immediate appearance this Thursday, Le Figaro has learned from the public prosecutor's office.

This chemist and this engineer of French nationality had been arrested while they were participating in a demonstration in support of Ukraine. According to the prosecution, they quickly admitted the facts in police custody, explaining that they had acted in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The pair was sent before the criminal court for the facts of "damage or deterioration of the property of others by a means dangerous to people" and "unauthorized manufacture of an explosive or incendiary device or explosive product" .

On Monday morning, Marseille firefighters were called to the consulate, located in the southern districts of Marseille, following an "explosion" in its gardens. The building's staff were quickly confined and a security perimeter was set up by law enforcement supported by bomb disposal experts.

Suspecting an attack on the consulate, the Russian Foreign Ministry had denounced what it considered to be a "terrorist attack" occurring a few days after the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine . A police source then mentioned the presence of at least three "Molotov cocktails" , information denied immediately by the police prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône, mentioning the presence of "50 centilitre plastic soda bottles" .

In police custody, the accused indicated that the mixture contained in these bottles was in reality a cocktail of nitrogen and chemical substances, as confirmed by the public prosecutor of Marseille Nicolas Bessone. The detonations did not cause any injuries and did not cause any damage. "France condemns any attack on the security of diplomatic premises," the Quai d'Orsay had reacted.