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CHILLING photos show five coffins placed at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in a disturbing stunt allegedly carried out by Russian agents.
The three suspects are accused of dropping the coffins wrapped with a French flag that included a message that read “French soldiers of Ukraine.”
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The coffins were covered with a French flag and had the words French soldiers of Ukraine
XThree men were seen arriving in a van at about 9am on Saturday and the coffins were found shortly afterwards.
The Bulgarian, German and Ukrainian nationals claimed they were paid £340 (€400) for the bizarre stunt, officials at the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
The public prosecutors have requested that the three men be charged with premeditated violence.
The trio includes the driver of the vehicle that transported the coffins, a 39-year-old Bulgarian, as well as two people associated with him a 25-year-old German man and a 16-year-old Ukrainian, who was arrested aboard a Paris-Berlin bound Flixbus.
Prosecutors described the stunt as an “act of psychological violence.”
They were released from custody on Monday pending an investigation.
France is on its highest alert level ahead of the Summer Games in Paris and the lavish open-air ceremony on the River Seine.
Last week French authorities arrested an 18-year-old accused of planning an attack during this summer‘s Olympic Games.
Chechen immigrant Rokhman B. is suspected of organising an attack on a football game in Lyon and is said to have wanted to “die a martyr” by killing spectators or police officers.
Meanwhile, footage from the frontline appears to show the dramatic moment the Russians detain a French fighter on Ukraine’s side.
The footage comes amid Moscow’s fury over threats by some NATO countries to put Western soldiers into Ukraine.
The fighter held in the video – and shown by pro-Kremlin TV – wears French chevron on his uniform and is believed to be a mercenary fighter supporting Ukraine.
He can be seen cowering in a trench in Lyptsi, Kharkiv region when a Russian soldier sprays bullets near him saying: “Hey, get out!”
The French fighter replies, begging for his life: “Ne tirez pas” – [Don’t shoot].
The Russian fires twice, ordering the foreign mercenary: “Throw your weapons away!”
The Frenchman replies: “Ne tirez pas, je suis Français!” [Don’t shoot, I’m French!]
The Russian again shoots close to the surrounding man and demands: “Get out!”
The fighter told his captor: “Vous pouvez m’échanger!” [You can exchange me!]
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East2WestAs he pleads for his life, he evidently realises he may have a value to the Russians who can demand a swap of compatriots perhaps in detention in France.
It is far from clear that the two frontline foes can understand each other.
The Russian soldier again fires from his rifle and insists: “Get out!”
Again the French fighter: “Ne tirez pas” – (Don’t shoot)
Russian soldier: (kicking the Frenchman): ‘Get out!’
The Frenchman then again pleads “don’t shoot, don’t shoot”.
The video ends and it is assumed the French fighter is captured and now in Russian hands.
There has been fighting around Lyptsi in recent days as Russian forces seek to advance into Ukrainian territory.
The incident comes amid anger in Russia over a French plan to send military instructors to Ukraine to assist Kyiv’s forces.
Reports in Kyiv say the first instructors have already arrived.
President Emmanuel Macron aims to forge a coalition of Western countries willing to take the step of training Ukrainian troops on the ground, say reports.
Recent stunts by suspected Kremlin agents
The coffins incident was not the only stunt suspected to have been orchestrated by agents acting on behalf of Russia.
A deepfake documentary purportedly showing Tom Cruise has appeared seemingly targeting the Paris Olympics, according to Microsoft.
The AI-generated video appeared with the title Olympics Has Fallen.
Earlier this month 35 red hands were painted on the Holocaust Shoah Memorial in Paris.
French authorities believe the culprits fled abroad.
But one of the suspects in the coffin case reportedly had a phone call with a Bulgarian suspect in the red hands incident, Le Monde reported.
Shortly after the October 7 massacre, Stars of David were grafitti appeared on walls across Paris.
A couple from Moldova was arrested, who French officials believe were paid by Russian intelligence.
Moscow sees this as evidence of the direct involvement of NATO members in the conflict, and believes the same about Western permission given to Ukraine to use long range missiles supplied by Alliance members to strike at targets on Russian territory.
Earlier Macron said that Europe should consider sending troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through the front lines.
He warned that “if Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe”.
The French leader said: ‘If there were a Ukrainian request, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question.”
The Kremlin branded Macron’s comments “very dangerous”.
Several NATO countries have refused to rule out putting their soldiers’ boots on the ground in Ukraine if Russia advances beyond its current positions.
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