French police detain suspect after surrounding Iranian consulate in Paris

French authorities on Friday detained a man after receiving an alert from the Iranian consulate in Paris that someone had entered carrying an explosive, the capital's police authority said.

French police secure the area near Iran consulate in Paris, where a man was reportedly threatening to blow himself up on 19 April, 2024. REUTERS - Benoit Tessier

A security perimeter was reportedly set up around the consulate ahead of what was described as an "imminent police intervention" after witnesses say they saw a man enter the building carrying either a grenade or an explosive belt.

Authorities said Paris prefect Laurent Nuñez had mobilised the BRI, an elite unit, after the consulate made an intervention request to police.

🔴 Intervention en cours rue Fresnel à #Paris16.
Évitez le secteur. pic.twitter.com/5zSZJT5W1x

— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) April 19, 2024

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The area around the Iranian consulate, on Avenue d'Iéna in the 16th arrondissement, has been completely sealed off and a strong police presence remains.

Traffic on metro lines 9 and 6 serving Trocadero station, the closest to the Iranian consulate, has been interrupted.

This comes as tensions in the Middle East rise following an overnight counter-attack on Iran – allegedly launched by Israel – in retaliation for an Iranian drone attack on the Jewish state earlier this week. 

(with newswires)