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The Jerusalem Post

Police arrest man in Paris Iran consulate incident, threatened to blow himself up

 
French police at the scene of the Iranian consulate, April 19, 2024 (photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER)
French police at the scene of the Iranian consulate, April 19, 2024
(photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER)

French police arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran's consulate in Paris after carrying explosives into the building.

French police on Friday arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran's consulate in Paris.

A police source had told Reuters the man was seen at about 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) entering the consulate, carrying what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest. Police cordoned off the area.

The man later left the consulate and on being searched was found not to be carrying any explosives, a police source said.

Le Parisien newspaper said on its website that, according to several witnesses, the man had dragged flags on the floor of the consulate and said he wanted to avenge the death of his brother.

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Plaque at Iranian Embassy in Paris (credit: Krokodyl/Wikimedia Commons)
Plaque at Iranian Embassy in Paris (credit: Krokodyl/Wikimedia Commons)

Unclear if connected to Iran-Israel tensions

It was unclear whether the incident had any link to current tensions between Iran and Israel.

Earlier on Friday, explosions echoed over the Iranian city of Isfahan in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

The US embassy in Paris asked Americans to avoid the area, following similar recommendations by French police.

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