Two French researchers are due in court after staging a dramatic protest at the Russian consulate in Marseille this week, reportedly motivated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
French prosecutors said Wednesday that two employees of France's main state CNRS research agency admitted to throwing improvised explosive devices at the Russian consulate in Marseille, southern France, saying they acted because of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Three plastic bottles were lobbed into the consulate gardens on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday.
The bottles – two of which exploded – contained nitrogen and other chemical substances. No one was injured and no damage was reported.
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One of the researchers is an engineer, the other a chemist, and both will appear before a judge on Thursday.
According to Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone, the two "have justified their action in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine".
The researchers are charged with damaging property "by a means dangerous to persons" and "unauthorised manufacture of explosive or incendiary devices," Bessone added.
The CNRS conducts research in various scientific fields and has more than 1,100 laboratories across French territory, employing some 33,000 people including researchers from the former Soviet Union.
Moscow called the incident a "terrorist attack", while the French government condemned "any infringement of the security of diplomatic compounds".
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Regional newspaper La Provence reported that the two men – in their forties and fifties – were identified during a pro-Ukraine protest at Marseille town hall on Monday.
The Russian embassy in Paris said it had asked French authorities before the incident to tighten security around Russian diplomatic missions "in view of possible provocations".
"Nevertheless, such attacks occurred," the embassy said.
Russia's Investigative Committee, which looks into major crimes, said on Tuesday it had launched its own probe and was preparing "an international request for legal assistance".
