A MAN was arrested after threatening to blow up the Iranian embassy in Paris while claiming to be wearing an explosive vest and carrying a grenade.
The French capital’s 16th arrondissement has been cordoned off after armed counter-terror cops stormed the scene.
ReutersArmed police swarmed the Iranian consulate building this morning[/caption]
ReutersMasses of police were seen patrolling the street[/caption]
BFMOther heavily-armed camouflaged French police forces were seen running[/caption]
The drama unfolded close to the Eiffel Tower soon after 11am as cops say a suspicious man was seen entering the consulate building.
“The man presented him at the consulate, and then removed his coat, to show off an alleged explosives vest,” said a security source at the scene.
“He said he was carrying a grenade, and then placed a national flag on the floor. He said he wanted to avenge his brother.”
France’s most elite anti-terrorism police unit, the BRI (the research and intervention brigade) arrived within minutes and sealed off the surrounding area.
“A security perimeter is in place, with nobody allowed to enter it,” said the source, who added the whole street is in full lockdown.
Police have asked the public to avoid the area.
Police have also ordered the city’s Metro Line 6 to be interrupted as a safety measure.
It was unclear whether the incident had any link to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
However, this morning Israel launched its much-awaited revenge attack on Iran – just days after Tehran unleashed an unprecedented missile and drone blitz.
The precision strike hit a major Iranian air force base next door to one of its prized nuclear sites near the city of Isfahan.
Iranian state TV launched into damage control claiming three drones were “destroyed” by its air defence batteries and no ground damage was caused.
However, the fresh attack threatens to further push relations between the two arch-foes to the brink amid fears of an all-out war breaking out across the tinderbox of the Middle East.
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ReutersThe man allegedly threw flags on the ground and screamed about his brother[/caption]
ReutersCops have created a security perimeter[/caption]
BFMThe man is said to be either wearing an explosive belt or carrying a grenade[/caption]