Two French citizens, who attacked the Russian consulate in Marseille on February 24, turned out to be researchers of the National Centre for Scientific Research of France (CNRS). This is reported by the newspaper La Provence and TV channel BFMTV.
According to the newspaper and TV channel, both men pleaded guilty.
According to BFMTV with reference to the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, the suspects threw three plastic bottles, two of which exploded, the same version was presented by the Russian Investigative Committee. Law enforcers are examining the substance with which the bottles were filled.
La Provence writes that one of the detainees is an engineer and the second is a chemist. They filled the bottles with a mixture of nitrogen and chemicals capable of producing a ‘detonating effect’, the newspaper reported.
The explosion on the consulate grounds took place on the morning of 24 February, no one was injured. The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under part 2 of Article 360 of the Criminal Code – an attack on persons or institutions that enjoy international protection, with the aim of complicating international relations. The article provides for a punishment of seven to 12 years in prison.
Later, two men were detained after being spotted outside the building at a demonstration in support of Ukraine. RMC wrote that the men are 48 and 59 years old. Both were taken into custody on 24 February.
The French Foreign Ministry said that Paris condemned any attacks on the security of diplomatic missions.
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