Two researchers from France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) have pleaded guilty in the case of the attack on the Russian consulate in Marseille, the Provence newspaper reported.
“The alleged perpetrators, two pro-Kiev researchers from the CNRS, detained hours after throwing bottles with explosives in the garden of the Russian consulate, have admitted their guilt“, the newspaper wrote.
On Monday, an explosion occurred near the Russian diplomatic mission after unknown individuals threw Molotov cocktails in the garden of the consulate. Police later detained two suspects in the attack on a pro-Ukrainian rally, born in 1965 and 1977.
According to law enforcement officials, the improvised explosive devices used to attack the diplomatic mission contained aluminum acid. The attackers managed to throw three homemade bombs in plastic bottles, but only two of them exploded.
A criminal case has been opened over the incident.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that the attack had all the signs of a terrorist act. She said Moscow is demanding that France take comprehensive and swift measures to investigate the incident, as well as steps to strengthen the security of the foreign mission.
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service reported last week that Kiev may try to disrupt talks to resolve the Ukrainian conflict by carrying out terrorist attacks on Moscow's diplomatic missions in Europe.