“French soldiers from Ukraine”: empty coffin action staged near Eiffel Tower

Le Parisien reported the information.

“At about 9 o'clock in the morning on Saturday, near the Eiffel Tower, three people put 5 life-size coffins on a public road, covering them with a French flag and the inscription ‘French soldiers from Ukraine,’” a law enforcement source told the outlet. 

According to the results of an inspection conducted by the central laboratory and the dog training service, the coffins contained bags of plaster. 

The police reported that “the driver of the van that was transporting the coffins was arrested nearby due to the rapid deployment of police.” 

The detainee, who had arrived from Bulgaria the night before, said he had been paid EUR 40 for the transportation of the cargo and escort. 

The other two suspects managed to escape. However, law enforcement officials believe they found them at the Bercy bus station. 

“The police of the 12th arrondissement arrested two men who were preparing to take a bus to Berlin. According to our information, the three suspects are a Bulgarian, a Ukrainian and a German,” the statement said.

The investigation was entrusted to the Paris regional police. According to the Paris prosecutor's office, the three suspects were taken into custody on Saturday for “premeditated violence.”

• On May 30, media reported that France might announce that it would send its military instructors to Ukraine next week during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the country.
• Later, French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to create a coalition of states that would be willing to send military instructors to train soldiers in Ukraine. 
• France also said that since Ukraine had not initially received restrictions on the use of its Storm Shadow missiles, it could fire them at Russian territory.