Eiffel Tower Coffin Mystery Linked to Kremlin

Five coffins discovered near the foot of the Eiffel Tower over the weekend may have been the work of Russian or Russian-backed actors, the BBC reported Monday citing French intelligence.

The coffins were filled with plaster and covered with a French flag and the words "French soldiers of Ukraine."

French authorities are said to believe the coffins, which arrived in a van at about 9 a.m. Saturday, are part of a wider Kremlin-backed foreign interference campaign meant to undermine public opinion in France ahead of the Summer Olympics, which kick off next month at sites around Paris.

Three men were arrested in connection to the deposited coffins, according to a document from the local security directorate for the Paris agglomeration (DSPAP) obtained by Le Monde.

One of the men, who drove the van used to transport the coffins, told police he had been paid €40, or about $44, to drop off the other two men and the cargo.

The other two men, from Ukraine and Germany, were arrested as they prepared to board a bus to Berlin. They reportedly admitted they had been paid €400, or about $435, to drop off the coffins.

The three men were taken before a judge on Sunday. A judicial investigation is expected to take place for "violence with premeditation," according to the BBC.

Foreign powers

The Eiffel Tower incident comes after Ukrainian officials confirmed discussions were underway to dispatch French military instructors to the frontlines of the war with Russia.

French authorities have suspected Russia was behind other stunts within the past few months.

Data from one of the coffin suspect's phones linked the three men to another person police had suspected of defacing the Wall of the Righteous at the Shoah Memorial in Paris with graffiti in May.

The Bulgarian suspect, identified as Georgi F., had been in contact with the suspect wanted for allegedly painting the red hands on the Holocaust memorial, according to Le Monde.

French authorities also believed Russia was behind the stenciling of dozens of Stars of David on buildings throughout Paris shortly after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Moscow has denied having anything to do with that incident.

The Eiffel Tower coffin stunt is thought to reference the idea of France deploying soldiers to Ukraine to help Kyiv in its war with Moscow.

President Emmanuel Macron said last month that sending Western troops to Ukraine would "legitimately" take place if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines.

The Kremlin had called Macron's remarks "dangerous."

While foreign military personnel are already in Ukraine and "have been there for a long time," Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that a NATO member putting boots on the ground would be "another step toward a serious conflict in Europe and global conflict."

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.