Projectiles Thrown at Russian Consulate in France, One Explodes, Says Source

Bomb-squad officers prepare a demining robot in front of the Russian consulate in Marseille, after improvised explosive devices were thrown, on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
Bomb-squad officers prepare a demining robot in front of the Russian consulate in Marseille, after improvised explosive devices were thrown, on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
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Projectiles Thrown at Russian Consulate in France, One Explodes, Says Source

Bomb-squad officers prepare a demining robot in front of the Russian consulate in Marseille, after improvised explosive devices were thrown, on February 24, 2025. (AFP)
Bomb-squad officers prepare a demining robot in front of the Russian consulate in Marseille, after improvised explosive devices were thrown, on February 24, 2025. (AFP)

Two projectiles were thrown at the perimeter wall of Russia's consulate in the southern French port city of Marseille on Monday, one of which exploded, a French security source said. 

It was not immediately clear if the projectiles cleared the wall. BFM TV said the projectiles were Molotov cocktails and that they landed in the consulate's garden. 

Russia demanded a full French investigation and said the incident looked like an act of terrorism, state news agency TASS reported. 

No one was injured, the security source said. Consulate staff were kept indoors and police set up a security perimeter around the consulate. 

The incident in the southern French city took place on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. 

"The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," TASS quoted Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying. 

Marseille, France’s second-largest city and a major Mediterranean port, is home to a diverse population but does not have a notably large Russian community. France has seen multiple protests against Russia’s war in Ukraine since 2022, including demonstrations in Marseille, Paris, and other cities. 



Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
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Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified again on Wednesday in his ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant. He denies wrongdoing, saying the charges are a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media and a biased legal system out to topple his lengthy rule.

The corruption trial testimony is another low point for Israel’s longest-serving leader, who also faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Hungary later Wednesday for a meeting with the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, despite the international arrest warrant.