Police in Paris’ affluent 16th arrondissement established a security perimeter on Friday following reports of a man who was purportedly threatening to trigger an explosive belt at the Iranian consulate. However, authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect without any additional complications.
The police interrogated the man, but no explosives were found on him. As a precautionary measure, the area was cordoned off for several hours. The Paris prosecutor’s office later revealed that the man made threats while inside the consulate, but eventually left voluntarily.
The suspect, a 60-year-old French-Iranian dual national, has been accused by the prosecutor of attempting to set fire to the Iranian consulate. Interestingly, this is not the first time he has targeted the consulate. Last September, he carried out a similar act, citing his protest against the Iranian regime. As a consequence, he was convicted and given a suspended sentence in October 2023. Additionally, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and entering the 16th arrondissement, where the consulate is situated.
According to Le Parisien, police sources reported that an eyewitness saw a guy present himself at the consulate entrance before lifting his coat to reveal what seemed to be a handmade explosive belt.
The publication quoted numerous eyewitnesses who observed the man plant flags on the consulate’s floor. They reported that he stated that he intended to take revenge for his brother’s death.
Authorities dispatched police, including SWAT teams, to investigate the scene and advised the public to The operation halted traffic on Paris’ subway system between stations in the region.
