PARIS (AP) — A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
The incident came at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and as Paris is on high security alert as it gears up to host the Summer Olympics in three months.
The suspect had been convicted for setting fire to the Iranian Embassy gates last year in what he called a protest against the Iranian government, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The consulate and embassy are part of the same compound, in the ritzy 16th arrondissement of Paris and near the Seine River.
Iranian authorities did not comment publicly on what happened.
The man was spotted around 11 a.m. outside the consulate, and a witness told police he had a grenade and an explosives vest, according to a Paris police official. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to be publicly named under police policy.
Stevie Nicks provides poem about ill
Beijing urges Manila to act with caution
FM envisions ties with Benin, League of Arab States
Xi calls for closer ties with Vietnam
Claire Danes carries umbrella for bundled
China airs concern over Japan's move to sell jets
Israel pulls troops out of southern Gaza
Hong Kong defends new security law
Beijing Half Marathon champion has medal taken away after other runners slowed down to let him win
Xi calls for solid efforts to further energize China's central region
Dutch soccer club Vitesse docked points and relegated during probe of Russian ties to Abramovich
China urges Israel to implement UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire